In this 16th annual poll of 10 outstanding science and technology (S&T) events, the Vietnam Science and Technology Journalists Club chose to protect the geographical indications of Luc Ngan lychee and Binh Thuan dragon fruit in Japan as the typical event of international cooperation in science and technology of the year. 

This choice adds good news to the managers of S&T and agriculture as well as the two provinces of Bac Giang and Binh Thuan. However, this is not too surprising because these two products have also been mentioned many times by the scientific media since Japan granted a geographical indication protection certificate last year. 

Previously, on March 16, 2021, the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries granted a Geographical Indication Protection Certificate for Luc Ngan lychee of Bac Giang province. This is the first agricultural product of Vietnam to be granted a Geographical Indication Certificate in Japan. The grant of a geographical indication protection certificate creates favorable conditions for Luc Ngan lychee to be exported to Japan and expanded to other markets with similar strict import regulations. 

Announcement on lychee Luc Ngan, Bac Giang of Vietnam granted Geographical Indication Certificate No. 107 in Japan. 

Announced information about Binh Thuan dragon fruit of Vietnam granted Certificate of Geographical Indication No. 110 in Japan. 

After Luc Ngan lychee, on October 7, 2021, the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries continued to grant a Geographical Indication Protection Certificate for Binh Thuan dragon fruit. The protection of geographical indications in Japan affirms the prestige of Binh Thuan dragon fruit in the Japanese market, opening up many new opportunities for consumption and exportation in many different markets, especially in other high-standard markets such as Europe, Korea, New Zealand.etc. 

The successful export of Luc Ngan lychee and Binh Thuan dragon fruit to the difficult Japanese market proves the important role of intellectual property - as a supporting tool for Vietnamese products to have more competitive and export advantages, especially for agricultural products. Luc Ngan lychee was granted a geographical indication by the National Office of Intellectual Property in Vietnam in 2008, and Binh Thuan dragon fruit was granted in 2006. Since then, the reputation of some Vietnamese products has been protected, developed, increased in prestige and value. This is an important preparatory step for the registration of geographical indication protection in Japan. 

Mr. Dinh Huu Phi, Director of the National Office of Intellectual Property, Ministry of Science and Technology stated that the successful registration of geographical indications for the above two agricultural products in Japan is the result of the implementation of the Memorandum of Cooperation between the National Office of Intellectual Property of Viet Nam and Japan's Food Industry Affairs Bureau on the commitment to promote the protection of geographical indications between the two countries. Through the protection of geographical indications of Luc Ngan litchi and Binh Thuan dragon fruit in Japan, NOIP has gained a lot of valuable experience in supporting Vietnamese local specialties to the world. This is considered an activity that the NOIP will continue to develop to help regional specialties associated with the specific destinations of Vietnam be protected by a relatively strong protection mechanism which is the protection of geographical indications. 

The National Office of Intellectual Property of Viet Nam  

(Reporter: Thu Quynh)