Being licensed by the Minister of Science and Technology, the NOIP, the Swiss Vietnam Intellectual Property Project and Departments of Science and Technology of Quang Nam province and Vinh Long province jointly organized successfully 02 seminars on “Protection of Geographical Indications” in Quang Nam province on 20 October 2008 and in Vinh Long province on 22 October 2008. 

The seminar is targeted to introduce, giving guidance and exchange experience on geographical indication such as: Protection of geographical names used for local specialties under IP legislation; Protection of geographical indications in Viet Nam; Swiss experiences on the protection of geographical indications. Protection of geographical indications is a process of establishment, exploitation, protection and development of one of rather complicated IP subject matter and difficult to be implemented in terms of both application of legislation and practical management and use of rights at localities. So far, the NOIP issued 13 Certificates for geographical indication registration for 13 local products and grant the protection for 02 foreign products. Only several provinces completed and carried out relative effective management of the Regulations on Management and Use of Geographical Indications. 

The seminar was attended by leaders and officials from Departments of Science and Technology of provinces in the Central area, South West and the Mekong Delta of Viet Nam, representatives from enterprises, associations, industries, producers and traders of products carrying GIs.