Shota Berekashvili, Chair of the Economic Policy Committee, addressed the Competition and Consumer Protection IV International Conference.

According to him, the effective regulatory system has been established in Georgia, ensuring consistent policy for fair competition and consumer protection.

As he noted, despite the achieved progress, the competitive environment will be further enhanced, particularly in sectors with high market concentrations.

“Market deconcentration and the strengthening of competition instruments are not merely economic issues; they are fundamental prerequisites for social welfare and consumer protection, ensuring lower prices, improved quality, and more sustainable market development”, - he reported.

According to his account, the Economic Policy Committee, within its mandate, actively strives to ensure the stability of the legal framework, facilitating competitiveness.

“Our task is to ensure an environment in which the private sector can enhance innovation and productivity, thereby creating additional value for consumers. We believe that a strong institutional and legal framework is the foundation of economic development. That is why the Parliament is purposefully working to further refine legislation, to ensure consistent coordination between regulatory and legislative systems, so that every citizen can feel the results of a fair market in their daily lives”, - said Shota Berekashvili.

The Conference was also addressed by Mikheil Sarjveladze, Minister of IDPs, Labor, Health, and Social Protection; Davit Songhulashvili, Environmental Protection and Agriculture Minister; Giorgi Dgebuadze, Deputy Justice Minister; and Teresa Moreira, Head of Competition and Consumer Policies at UNCTAD.

The Conference is being held on November 13–15, jointly organized by the Competition and Consumer Protection Agency, the National Bank of Georgia, GNERC, the State Insurance Supervision Service, and the Communications Commission. The conference hosts heads of competition and consumer protection authorities from about 20 countries, as well as representatives of major international organizations.

Within the framework of the conference, 10 panel discussions will be held with the participation of local and international experts, including 3 international panels and one presentation of a sectoral study. Around 350 delegates and about 50 local and international speakers are taking part in the international conference.

To strengthen cooperation, a memorandum of understanding will be signed between the relevant agencies responsible for competition and consumer protection.

The annual conference aims to strengthen competition policy in Georgia, discuss achievements and challenges in this field, and improve mechanisms for protecting consumer rights based on both international and local best practices.