ARISE+ IPR enhanced ASEAN GI producers’ capacity on Geographical Indications

From 23 to 27 September 2019, ARISE+ IPR hosted national capacity building workshops on Geographical Indications for local GI producers, respectively in Bali, Indonesia (23 September), in Sarawak region, Malaysia (25 September), and in Chiang Rai, Thailand (27 September).

The workshops have benefited nearly 100 GI producers in total. The participants had the opportunity to be updated with national legislations for GI protection and management. EU experts on GIs also shared their expertise and best practices on the roles of GI collective management organizations, branding strategies, GI book of specifications and on controlling and maintaining mechanisms.

Addressing the workshop in Bali, Indonesia, Mr. Raffaele Quarto, Head of Economic and Trade Section at the EU Delegation to Indonesia and Brunei, noted that GIs registration is not enough to guarantee by itself a positive price evolution and an economic growth of the communities. The success of a GI product in the market is attributed to many factors, including an efficient collective GI management organization, a good branding and marketing strategies, as well as a strong controlling and maintaining mechanism, among others.

Balancing theory and practice, the workshop divided GI producers into different working groups dealing with GI Book of Specifications drafting, on how to frame branding strategies and marketing messages for GI products, as well as how to draft a control plan. 

In each location, many prominent local GI products were displayed on the sidelines of the workshop. The exhibition was an opportunity for producers to tell the story behind their GI products and to further share their knowledge and networking with other GI producers in other regions.  

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