TBILISI, April 27 – Georgia and Sweden’s respective state agencies for protecting consumers have agreed to partner in order to share their experiences.
The two agencies signed a new cooperation agreement, called a memorandum, as Tbilisi prepares to take over the presidency of a major international consumer protection network.
The memorandum was signed during a study visit to Sweden by Irakli Lekvinadze, chairman of Georgia’s Competition and Consumer Protection Agency, and Lena Aronsson, director general of Sweden’s consumer protection agency, KOV.
According to Georgia’s competition agency, the agreement is aimed at deepening cooperation between the two agencies and sharing experience and best practices in consumer rights protection.
The visit comes ahead of Georgia’s upcoming presidency of the International Consumer Protection and Enforcement Network, known as ICPEN. Georgia’s agency is set to take over the presidency on July 1, 2026.
In September, Georgia will host a high-level international conference with representatives from more than 80 countries expected to attend.
ICPEN brings together consumer protection bodies from different countries. Its stated goal is to strengthen cross-border cooperation and improve protection of consumer interests at the global level.
During the study visit in Sweden, Georgian and Swedish officials discussed ways to implement consumer rights protection policy more effectively, according to a press release published by Interpressnews. They also talked about current challenges, development of the regulatory framework and improvement of enforcement mechanisms.
The sides also identified priority areas for future cooperation.
The meetings covered issues linked to unfair commercial practices, product safety supervision and consumer rights in tourism and transport services. Officials also discussed regulation of so-called “dark patterns” in the digital space, a term often used for online design tricks that can push users into choices they may not otherwise make.
Georgia’s embassy in Sweden was also involved in the signing of the memorandum.
Lekvinadze’s delegation included Sergo Sanikidze, head of the consumer rights protection department, as well as department staff members Sandro Alapishvili and Nutsa Putkaradze. Ivliane Dzneladze, a representative of Georgia’s embassy in Sweden, also attended the meetings, the press release stated.
