04/11/2019, Kabul - The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in close collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation, and Livestock (MAIL) conducted an inception workshop for a newly signed project that is called Geographical Indication (GI) system in Kabul.

The objective of the inception workshop was to present the project, disseminate information about the GI system and collect feedback from the stakeholders for the successful implementation of the project.

The workshop was attended by high officials from MAIL, Ministry of Industry and Commerce (MoIC), European Union, FAO and other relevant authorities from the government and private sector.

This project will allow the Afghan Government to set up a national GI system, which will help increase the income of the smallholder producers and agribusinesses in the prioritized GI value chain and allow the Afghan producers to introduce quality products to the regional and global markets.

This three-year project is implemented in two phases. This first phase involves a series of interventions as regards GI legislation, policies, capacity development, product identification, control, quality assurance, verification and certification. The second phase of the project, which is expected to begin in 2020-2021, will focus on increasing the income of smallholder producers and agribusinesses through the development of three pilot GI value chains, improved market access and increased recognition of Afghan GI by consumers. 

What is a Geographical Indication (GI) system?

A Geographical Indication (GI) is an Intellectual Property Right allowing to protect a name or sign used to identify products originating from a specific geographical location or origin (e.g., a town, region, or country) where a specific quality, reputation or other characteristics of these products are essentially linked to their origin. Thousands of GI products have been registered in the world.  Asia is becoming the most active region in terms of GI registration and development after Europe. 

“Lack of access to the regional and international market is the main challenges we are facing in Afghanistan and this is due to the non-standard processing and packaging of products. This project will undoubtedly bring profitable income to smallholder producers and open a new window to the trade sector of Afghanistan”, said H.E. Naseer Ahmad Durrani, MAIL Minister.

"Our project of launching Geographical Indications is part of a concerted effort to improve living conditions in rural areas, to increase the productivity and the quality standards of farming in Afghanistan in order to boost the export economy, to create jobs and to fight poverty", said Andreas Fischer-Barnicol, Deputy Head of the European Union.

“The development of GI is the best tool for promoting Afghan products and protecting Afghanistan’s heritage. I would like to express my sincere thanks to the Government of Afghanistan for taking the lead on this important activity and to the European Union (EU) for supporting the development of Afghanistan’s first GI system”, said Rajendra Aryal, FAO Representative in Afghanistan.

The project is implemented under the leadership of the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation, and Livestock (MAIL) and in close collaboration with the Ministry of Industry and Commerce (MoIC) with technical support by FAO. The project is funded by the European Union (EU).