Joint media advisory from The Delegation of the European Commission to Thailand, the Department of Intellectual Property, Thai Commerce Ministry, and the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) of the United Nations

Date: Thursday, 11 June 2009
Time: 09:00 Opening ceremony
09:40 Press conference

Venue: Imperial China, 3rd Floor, The Imperial Queen’s Park Hotel

World-wide, affluent consumers are familiar with foods produced far away – such as French Champagne, German Black Forest ham, Hungarian paprika and Scottish Whisky.

Also Asia has its fair share of world-renowned foods, including Indian Basmati rice or Korean Ginseng tea.

What these products have in common, is branding based largely on the geographical location of the production or processing of the food.

On Thursday 11 June, the recommendations of a three-day technical seminar on using geographical indications (GI) to profile and brand agricultural products based on quality and their place of origin will be presented during a one day regional conference in Bangkok.

The conference is organized jointly by The Delegation of the European Commission to Thailand, the Department of Intellectual Property, Thai Commerce Ministry, and the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) of the United Nations.

Journalists are invited to attend the opening ceremony and the press conference from 09:00 to 10:00 hours at the Imperial Queen’s Park Hotel in Bangkok.

Main speakers at the press conference are HE Alongkorn Ponlaboot, Deputy Minister of Commerce (to be confirmed); David Lipman, Ambassador and Head of Delegation of European Commission to Thailand; He Changchui, FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional representative for Asia and Pacific; and Puangrat Asavapisit, Director-General of Department of Intellectual Property.

After the press conference, follow-up one-on-one interviews will be facilitated, and a GI award ceremony can be observed.


For more information or confirmation, please contact Kullwadee Sumalnop, [email protected] or 02.305.2644 or 08.1917.5602 or Diderik de Vleeschauwer, FAO information officer, telephone +66 81 899 7354.