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ASEAN specialties displayed in Geographical Indications exhibition

Hanoi , September 9 (VNA) – Specialties of Vietnam and other ASEAN countries are being showcased at the International Geographical Indications (GIs) Exhibition 2014, which was launched in Hanoi on September 9.

More than 70 booths exhibit Vietnamese specialties, such as Phu Quoc fish sauce, Phuc Trach grapefruits, Tan Cuong tea, and Hue conical hats, and other regional products, such as Myanmar algae, Lao coffee, Cambodian pepper and palm oil, Malaysian silk, and Bruneian frozen lamb.

The two-day event is jointly organised by the National Office of Intellectual Property under Vietnam ’s Ministry of Science and Technology and the EU-ASEAN project on the Protection of Intellectual Property Rights.

The exhibition is part of an initiative on GI protection run by the ASEAN Intellectual Property Rights Action Plan 2011 – 2015, chaired by Vietnam and Thailand .

With 38 protected GIs, Vietnam currently ranks second in ASEAN after Thailand .

A geographical indication certifies products with a specific geographical origin and qualities, characteristics or a reputation that are essentially attributable to that place of origin.

Many countries use GIs as a guarantee of product origin and quality. It is also regarded as an effective tool to increase a product’s competitiveness.

Globally, more than 10,000 products are considered GIs, with an estimated annual trade value of 50 billion USD.
VNA/VNP


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