GI sales estimated to reap B4bn for rural areas

GI sales estimated to reap B4bn for rural areas

Registration headed to all 77 provinces

New packaging for dried longan, one of 99 GI products aimed at creating added value for community-specific products.
New packaging for dried longan, one of 99 GI products aimed at creating added value for community-specific products.

Geographical indication (GI) products are expected to fetch more than 4 billion baht in sales this year, boosting income in rural communities.

Thosapone Dansuputra, director-general of the Commerce Ministry's Department of Intellectual Property, said the government has worked to promote GI sales over the past few years.

Sales of GI products last year topped 3.7 billion baht, with the figures expected to exceed 4 billion this year.

Sales figures before 2017 were not available for comparison, as no agencies collected data.

Next year the department will continue promoting GI registration to cover all 77 provinces, as directed by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, to help create value within communities.

GI is a distinctive certificate used to identify a product as originating in the territory of a particular country, region or locality where its quality, reputation or other characteristics originate. It reflects the unique characteristics and quality of products, which in turn boosts market value in developed countries.

Mr Thosapone said the department has already approved GI certificates for 99 indigenous products in 66 provinces, with approval pending for a 100th product, Sarika durian from Phangnga.

"The department has been encouraging all communities to add value to their own unique products, registering them as GI to boost the revenue of the community," he said.

"Gen Prayut wants every province to have its own GI product to create value for communities."

The department plans to promote local administrations help enforce GI rights against fake products from other locations, said Mr Thosapone.

The governors in each province should have their own committee to run GI promotion and control quality to protect their GI products, he said.

Mr Thosapone said Thailand is also moving to register more Thai GI products abroad, such as Hauymon pineapple from Uttaradit, and Doi Chaang and Doi Tung coffee in Japan.

Thailand has already filed GI applications for Thung Kula Rong Hai hom mali rice, Phetchabun sweet tamarind, and Pak Phanang tubtim siam pomelo in China; and Doi Tung coffee, Phetchabun sweet tamarind and Lamphun golden dried longan in Cambodia.

Thailand has GI registration for Thung Kula Rong Hai hom mali rice, Doi Chaang and Doi Tung coffee in the EU, and Lamphun brocade Thai silk in India and Indonesia.

There are 16 foreign products registered with GI in Thailand, mostly from Asean member countries such as Kampot pepper from Cambodia and Bolaven coffee from Laos.

Seven applications are pending from foreign products such as grapes from California, Pisco brandy from Chile, Grana Padano cheese from Italy, Kobe beef from Japan and Asiago cheese from Italy.

Do you like the content of this article?
COMMENT