GI Seminar, Exhibition and Expert Missions, 14-17 November 2005, Hanoi

Some 250 participants including local producers, lawyers, academics and officials attended a two-day seminar on “Geographical Indications: A Land of Opportunities” from 15 to 16 November 2005 in Hanoi.  This event was co-organised by the EC-ASEAN Intellectual Property Rights Co-operation Programme (ECAP II) and the National Office of Intellectual Property Rights of Vietnam (NOIP).

An exhibition, organised in addition to the seminar, showcased some Geographical Indications (GI) products from Europe and potential GIs from Vietnam.  GI products featured in this exhibition included Thanh Ha Lychee from Hai Duong Province, Lai Vung Mandarin Orange from Dong Thap Province and Hoa Loc Mango from Tien Giang Province.

Vietnam is currently finalising its national intellectual property law and emphasises the valorisation of national products through protection of GI. Most of participants revealed that they were not familiar to this topic, and that GIs may become very useful for Vietnamese producers in promoting of their products.  “Protection of GIs can yield a lot of benefits for agricultural countries, for producers, and more specifically for farmers”, wrote one participant in a feedback form.  “Vietnam should establish GIs to promote strength for each region”, said another. Some participants were enthusiastic in applying the knowledge gained from this seminar to their daily work.  “I will help some associations prepare documentation for GI registration. The information and experience given here will help us to complete efficiently all the required procedures”, stated one participant.  One local official expressed an interest in boosting GI protection in his own province.

Caption:  Speakers and hosts at the opening ceremony.  Seating, third from left HE Vice Minister Tran Quoc Thang, Ministry of Science and Technology, HE Markus Cornaro, Ambassador-Head of EC Delegation to Vietnam, Mr. Tran Viet Hung, Deputy Director General, NOIP, and standing, second from left, Mr. Stephane Passeri, ECAP II Programme Administrator.

Presentation materials from this seminar are available for downloading:

• GI: Promoting Khow-How and Quality by Mrs. Ana Soeiro, Ministry of Agriculture, Portugal
• The Geographical Indications in France: an economic impact by Mr. Francois Cotier, Commercial Counselor, Trade Mission, French Embassy in Vietnam
• History, Quality, Traceability: tools to reach the future by Mrs. Maria Ceia, Member of the Council Board of the Producer group Natura-al-Carnes, Portalegre
• GIs, a key issue in rural development by Mr. Charles Goemaere, CIVC, Champagne, France
• Geographical Indications Applications in Indonesia: Opportunities and Challenges by Dr. Surip Mawardi, Indonesian Coffee and Cocoa Research Institute, Indonesia
• Geographical Indications Application: Opportunities and Challenges by Dr. Surip Mawardi, Indonesian Coffee and Cocoa Research Institute, Indonesia
• Legal Protection of Geographical Indications in Vietnam by Mr. Le Viet Hung, Legislation Division, National Office of Intellectual Property
• The situation of special agricultural products and the need for the protection of agricultural products in Vietnam by Dr. Trinh Khac Quang, Deputy Director, Department of Science and Technology, Ministry of Agricultur
• Appellation of origin “Phu Quoc” Fish Sauce by Dr. Pham Van Tho, Department of Science and Technology, Ministry of Fishery
• Sustainable development through development of products bearing Geographical Indications and Appellations of Origin by Mr. Tran Son Lam, Director General, Department of Science and Education, the Government Office
• Inventory of well known local food products in Vietnam: a rich potential for Geographical Indication by Ms.Tran Thi Tham, CIRAD-MALICA Consortium
• Identification and registration of GIs:  design of specifications and delimitation of geographical area by Mrs. Ana Soeiro, Ministry of Agriculture, Portugal
• From the past to the future (in English) by Mrs. Maria Ceia
• From the past to the future (in Vietnamese) by Mrs. Maria Ceia
• Indentification and registration of GIs: design of specification and delimitation of geographical area by Mrs. Ana Soeiro
• Role of the Professional organisations in the supervision system by Mr. Charles Goemaere
• Inspection systems for Geographical Indications by Mrs. Ana Soeiro
• Developing Geographical Indication Protection in Indonesia: Bali Kintamani Arabica Coffee as a Preliminary Case by Dr. Surip Mawardi
• Developing Geographical Indication Protection in Indonesia: Bali Kintamani Arabica Coffee as a Preliminary Case, ICCRI, CIRAD, INAO
• An example of the role of a producer group by Mrs. Maria Ceia
• Geographical Indications, a land of opportunities, Alcobaca Apple: GI case study by Mrs. Ana Soeiro
• Geographical Indications, a land of opportunities, Oeste Rocha Pear: GI case study by Mrs. Ana Soeiro
• Press Release
• Press Clippings