Hanoi hosts geographic indications exhibition
(VOV) -A geographic indications (GIs) exhibition, organised by the Ministry of Science and Technology and EC-ASEAN Intellectual Property Rights Cooperation Programme, opened in Hanoi on September 9.
The two-day exhibition has attracted 70 participating organisations from throughout the ASEAN region, introducing products which are considered intellectual property protected under laws governing GIs in Vietnam and ASEAN.
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The Vietnamese booth features a wide display of specialized products, including Phu Quoc fish sauce, Trung Nguyen coffee, Phuc Trach grapefruit, Tan Cuong tea, and Hue conical hats, drawing the greatest attention from visitors.
Feature products from ASEAN countries included natural algae from Myanmar, coffee from Laos, peppers and palm oil from Cambodia, silk from Malaysia, and frozen lamb from Brunei.
According to the organising board, GIs not only help consumers locate authentic products, and boost the production and trade of traditional goods, but also help improve competitiveness of local products.
Currently, there are about 10,000 protected GIs in the world with an estimated trade value of more than US$50 billion, including 120 GIs in the ASEAN region.
Addressing the event, Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Tran Van Tung said that GIs become an important instrument in the field of trade and create a link of product value chains, contributing to socio-economic development and tourism promotion.
He said Vietnam has certified 38 unique GIs, ranking second in ASEAN countries. However, GI development in Vietnam faces many difficulties because of consumers’ limited knowledge and sectors’ poor cooperation.
The exhibition is expected to raise people’s awareness of GIs which are mostly used to protect intellectual property and promote trade value of products in Vietnam and other ASEAN countries.