Geographical Indications are a tool for protecting intellectual property rights over names associated with local specific quali products, as well as a tool for market access and rural development in developing countries. The relevance of the use of this tool has been growing over the last years and several cooperation programs have been initiated. These initiatives have been taken at different levels, involving different donors.

In order to better formulate, implement and measure impacts of such programs, several actors have expressed their need for sharing experiences and best practices.

Against this background FAO, oriGIn and AGRIDEA are jointly organizing an expert meeting to share experiences and discuss areas of collaborations. The meeting will be held the of June 2010 in Geneva (Switzerland).
The objective of this meeting is to bring together different stakeholders involved in development projects/programs related to geographical indications and origin products in order to share experiences and to have a better knowledge of their respective activities and approaches.

Donwload:

Agenda

9.30 OPENING AND WELCOME ADDRESS
Mr Ambassador Luzius Wasescha
Permenant representative of Switzerland in the WTO
Mr Ali Arslan Gurkan
FAO liaison officer in Geneva
Ms Francesca Toso
WIPO
Ms Urzula-Maria Stepkowska
DG-AGRI (European Commission)
Mr Fernando Cano
Consejo Regulador del Tequila and representative of oriGIn Presidency

9.55 INTRODUCTION
Objectives and needs for knowledge sharing on technical cooperation programs related to GI
Ms. Florence Tartanac (FAO)
Presentation of participants

10.10 INVESTIGATION RESULTS
“Geographical Indications and International Cooperation in developing countries: an exploratory analysis of projects and institutions”.
Ms Dominique Barjolle (AGRIDEA)
Ms Marta Salvadori (University of Florence)

10.30 TOPIC 1
Integrating local, national and regional levels in defining and implementing origin products and GI related strategies, policies and technical cooperation programs.
Ms Emilie Vandecandelaere (FAO)
Ms Hélène Ilbert & Ms Anna Antonelli (CIHEAM)
Discussant: Ms Francesca Toso (WIPO)

11.00 Coffee break

11.20 TOPIC 2
Setting up GIs: mobilizing producers and local stakeholders, need of collective organization and setting up rules (code of practices)
Mr Sorinel Ghetau (UCODEP)
Mr Pascal Bernardoni (SEEDEV)
Discussant: Prof. Zoubida Charrouf
(University Mohamed V of Rabat)

11.45 TOPIC 3
Mobilizing institutions: cooperation
between intellectual property and agri- cultural institutions, and the inter- institutional project steering group. Implementers privileged institutions involved in theconceptual design of a project pilot phase.
Ms Irenka Krone (SECO)
Mr Ingo Meitinger (IPI)
Discussants: Ms Urszula-Maria Stepkowska
DG-AGRI

12.15 TOPIC 4
GIs and the link to the market: type of market (local, national, international), market growth perspectives, promotion strategies, financing, etc.
Ms Marie-Cécile Thirion (AFD)
Mr Damergi Chokri (INAT)
Discussant: Ms Sophie Réviron (AGRIDEA)

12.40 FINAL QUESTIONS, MORNING SYNTHESIS
Ms Dominique Barjolle (AGRIDEA)
Mr Milos Milovanovic (MAFWM-Serbia)

13.00 Lunch

AFTERNOON SESSION: EXCHANGE ON POTENTIAL COOPERATION PROJECTS

14.30 EXCHANGE SESSION
Recognized and potential impact of projects/programs related to geographical indications and origin-linked products
Mr Peter Damary (AGRIDEA)

15.10 EXCHANGE SESSION
Needs and potential projects in GI related fields.
Mr Massimo Vittori (oriGIn)

17.00 FINAL SYNTHESIS AND CLOSING SPEECHES
Mr Massimo Vittori (oriGIn)
Ms. Florence Tartanac (FAO)

17.30 CLOSING OF THE MEETING