The 2014-2017 project, with funding sourced from the French government, will be implemented in Laos, Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam.
At a launch ceremony in Hanoi on June 25, Michel Drobniak, Economic and Commercial Counsellor of the French Embassy in Vietnam, said the project helps the beneficiary countries strengthen the legal system on GI and reinforce the recognised system at the national level.
GI is a very important system, especially when Vietnam is negotiating free trade agreements (FTAs) with big partners, including the EU, he said.
Farmers will first benefit from their products if they are protected beyond national borders, he said, adding GI also helps Vietnamese consumers easily gain access to high-quality products.
During the past decade, the interest in an enhanced protection system for geographic indicators, a recognised system of certification for unique regional foods and agricultural processes, has grown considerably around the world, particularly in Asia. In Asia alone, the number of registered GI products now exceeds 120.
National Office of Intellectual Property of Vietnam (NOIP) Director General Ta Quang Minh stressed that Vietnam has a wide range of high-quality agricultural products which bring reputation and high economic value.
The use of GIs will promote the competitiveness of Vietnamese agricultural products and create more income for local people, contributing to hunger elimination, poverty reduction and sustainable development in rural areas, he said.
Currently, Vietnam has 38 famous products certified GIs including Shan Tuyet Moc Chau tea, Tam Xoan Hai Hau rice, Van Yen Cinnamon, Phu Quoc fish sauce, Buon Ma Thuat Coffee, Doan Hung pomelo and Binh Thuan green dragon fruit.
