Luc Ngan - Thieu litchi has registered for geographical indication in Japan. (Photo: VOV)

The inter-ministry plan to protect the trademarks and geographical indications of Vietnamese products with export potential will improve the effectiveness of other programs designed to boost exports and raise the status of Vietnamese products in foreign markets.

Specific activities include surveying the current support activities and needs of export-related groups, enhancing communications and marketing of Vietnamese trademarks and geographical indications abroad, seeking consultancy on trademark and geographical indication protection, and registering trademarks and geographical indications for agricultural products with export potential in key export markets.

Bac Giang province litchis, Dong Thap province mangos, and Son La province longans are the first three products to be supported and promoted.

Last year the Ministry of Science and Technology successfully protected the geographical indications of Luc Ngan Thieu litchis and Binh Thuan dragon fruit in Japan. That paves the way for geographical indication protection of other Vietnamese agricultural products in Japan. Last year the Department of Intellectual Property of the Ministry of Science and Technology received more than 95,000 applications for intellectual property rights registration and protection.

Vietnam has thousands of specialties which represent the culture of localities, whose values should be promoted during global integration. Boosting geographical indications should be part of any strategy to preserve biodiversity and traditional culture, strengthen trade competitiveness, promote local resources, fight trade abuse and fraud, or raise consumer awareness.