Thailand has GI registration for six products in foreign countries: Thung Kula Rong Hai hom mali rice, Doi Chaang and Doi Tung coffee and Sangyod Muang Phatthalung rice in the EU; Lamphun brocade Thai silk in India and Indonesia; and Isan indigenous Thai silk yarn in Vietnam.
The government is committed to developing and promoting geographical indication (GI) products in every province this year to generate income for communities.
In Vietnam, the Thai government has filed and is awaiting registration confirmation for Phetchabun sweet tamarind and Lamphun golden dried longan. GI confirmation is also expected for Doi Tung coffee in Cambodia.
Thosapone Dansuputra, director-general of the Intellectual Property Department, said the government has succeeded in developing GI products in 75 provinces as of last year, generating sales worth more than 5 billion baht.
Currently, only Pathum Thani and Ang Thong have yet to register GI products. Pathum Thani has already submitted GI registration for Hom Thong Pa-Thum bananas, while Ang Thong has proposed registration for the Ekkarat drum with the department, Mr Thosapone said.
A GI is a distinctive certificate used to identify a product as originating from a particular country, region or locality that has specific qualities, reputation or other unique characteristics.
The certification of unique characteristics and quality is expected to increase market value in developed countries. As of January this year, there were 228 applications for GI registration, 135 of which were approved and certified by the department. Of the 135 certified GI projects, 118 are indigenous products and 17 are foreign products.
Source: bangkokpost.com