Strengthening Regional Geographical Indications in Four Asian Countries
More than 80 percent of the population of both Cambodia and Lao People’s Democratic Republic live on subsistence agriculture. In Thailand and Viet Nam, subsistence agriculture remains considerable (60 percent of the population), although commercial agriculture and the food processing sector are developing fast. Despite their different economic situations, the four countries have developed the registration of geographical indication, a common tool to extend their national presence on the international market. The absence of a critical mass of people with experience in geographical indication systems in the target countries has slowed the development of the tool. Given the improbability of reaching such a critical mass at national level over a short period of time, there was a need to use the regional level to help the emergence of all the actors involved in the development, control, promotion and marketing of geographical indication.
What did the project do
Building upon the lessons learned from earlier technical assistance regarding geographical indications, the project sought to enhance regional integration by strengthening the public and private capacities of geographical indication stakeholders in order to strengthen its development and valorization in the region. In order to achieve this, the project reduced the knowledge gap between the four countries in terms of geographical indication. This allowed legal instruments and procedures to be put in place and allowed for intellectual property offices to register both national and foreign indications, in compliance with international standards. The network of institutions involved in the development of geographical indications, both at central and local levels, was strengthened, in particular through dialogue, mutual exchange, commercial and promotional activities and reinforcement of value chains.Impact
Stakeholders in the four countries involved in the project will benefit from the regional network supporting the development of sustainable geographical indications. Crucially, the development of geographical indications will mean increased incomes for smallholder farmers and improved access to markets. There will also be significant social and environmental benefits, with communities building upon geographical indications to favour good and sustainable agricultural practices.Activities
- Regional geographical indication network built for dialogue, mutual exchange and regional recognition of indications. Regional and international seminars and workshops organized and regional networking platform created on social media.
- Training manual emphasizing the importance of the creation of interprofessional geographical indications organizations for sustainable management drafted and published with National trainings delivered in the local language in each country to a mixed audience (public-private) of 80 trainees.
- Major regional study produced to assess the situation in terms of capacities and cooperation.
- Tailor-made training and coaching activities on marketing and promotion strategies delivered to all geographical indication priority groups – 150 people in total.
- Asia Geographical Indication Ambassadors Initiative” launched with beneficiary countries, in order to successfully support public-private cooperation in promoting the GI concept and product.
- Nine intraregional geographical indication registrations successfully obtained and intraregional dialogue promoted, including through bilateral dialogues and Memoranda of Understanding such as the one signed by the governments of Lao People’s Democratic Republic and Cambodia on cooperation on Trademarks and Geographical Indication signed in 2016.
- Support for the development of geographical indication regional expertise in Asia as emphasized with the creation of the annual “InterGIAsia” training since 2016, with 41 representatives of over 13 Asian countries participating in the last two years.
- Tailored activities for project countries. Geographical indication national label framework created in both Lao People’s Democratic Republic and Viet Nam. Public control capacities developed in Thailand. Internal control capacities developed for geographical indication value chains supported by the project with over 500 geographical indication producers trained in Thailand, Viet Nam, Cambodia and Lao People’s Democratic Republic. Value chain diagnostics and multiyear business plans developed for two geographical indications in Cambodia.
Project symbol: GCP/RAS/281/FRA
Project title: Promotion of rural development through development of Geographical indications at regional level in Asia
Contact: FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific / Sridhar Dharmapuri (Lead Technical Officer) / Emilie Vandecandelaere (Lead Technical Unit Officer)
Download PDF: http://www.fao.org/3/I9205EN/i9205en.pdf