(VOVworld) – The French government has approved a 2 million USD project on the promotion of rural development through the development of geographical indicators (GIs) in the sub-Mekong region for for 2014 – 2017 period. 

Phuc Trach pomelos were registered to be protected with geographical indicators

The project launch ceremony was held in Hanoi on Tuesday by the French Agency for Development (AFD), the National Office of Intellectual Property of Vietnam, and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Michel Drobniak, Economic Counselor of the French embassy in Vietnam said the project helped beneficiary countries to enhance the legal system on geographical indicators and recognize national geographical indicators at the regional level. The Head of the National Office of Intellectual Property of Vietnam, Ta Quang Minh, stressed the use of GIs would raise the value and competitiveness of Vietnam’s agricultural products, generating more jobs and income, reduce poverty and assure sustainable development for rural areas: "Vietnam has a legal corridor on registration of geographical indicators. But management, development and use of GIs in trade are still limited. The project not only aims to promote GI management but also helps apply them in the market and GI registration in European markets". 

Vietnam has 38 products protected with GIs, ranking the 2^nd in Asia.