Irakli Lekvinadze participates in 14th Local Economic Development Forum

Tbilisi, Georgia: Irakli Lekvinadze, Chairman of the Agency for Competition and Consumer Protection of Georgia (GCCA), participated in the 14th Local Economic Development Forum organized by Tbilisi City Hall.

The 14th Local Economic Development Forum continues in Tbilisi on Friday, June 7, 2024.

Irakli Lekvinadze highlighted the reforms, results, and relevant genuine concerns in the areas of competition and consumer protection during the session titled “Strengthening Local Businesses for Economic Sustainability.”

“From 2014 to the present, the Agency issued 100 mandatory recommendations to build a fair and competitive business climate, including 63 to state and local self-government organizations, 24 to undertakings, and 13 to the pharmaceutical industry.

The investigation of 56 cases and 13 market monitoring concluded with actual findings. Effective control over company concentration is proceeding, with 37 approvals issued today for the concentration of undertakings in various areas. The emphasis on consumer protection is increasing. Consumers must know they are not alone when dealing with traders. In case of violations, they can contact us to protect their rights.

“Currently, the Agency has around 900 applications on record. Regarding anti-dumping measures, we have closed 2 cases – one concerning the alleged dumping price of filter cigarettes imported from Armenia and Azerbaijan, and the other involved three sectoral monitoring of the local industry in the food, fertilizer, and construction sectors,” stated Irakli Lekvinadze during his speech.

Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze opened the forum with the title “Healthy City—Green, Ecologically Clean Environment, Flexible, and Sustainable Urban Development.” The event was attended by the Vice Prime Minister of Georgia, Levan Davitashvili, Giorgi Tkemaladze, the Chairman of the Tbilisi City Municipal Assembly, and the Mayors of Baku, Ganji, and Gyumri.

Members of the Cabinet of Ministers and Parliament, officials from other state bodies, local governments, ambassadors, and 25 guests from 15 countries also attended.