The Indonesian government, through the Trade Ministry and Law and Human Rights Ministry, keeps working to introduce Geographic Indications of Indonesia to the global community, especially foreign buyers.
Geographic Indications are label that show or identify the origin of goods or products related to geographic environment factors, including natural factor, human factor or combination of both factors. This brings and shapes reputation, quality and characteristic of goods and items being produced.
This concept of Geographic Indications was initiated by Appellation of Origin from France and Denominazione di Origine Controllata from Italy, which means rules and geographic origin of a product. This term was then introduced through an international legal agreement (TRIPS Agreement 1994) as Geographical Indication.
As part of the effort to boost campaign on Geographical Indication, those ministries and Arise+ organized a webinar titled “Specialty Food Ingredients: Sourcing, Labelling and Opportunity in Exporting #IndikasiGeografis Indonesia.”
This hybrid seminar, combining online and offline event, was held at Indonesia Convention Exhibition (ICE) BSD, Tangerang, Banten, on Wednesday (3/11) and was part of Trade Expo Indonesiake-36 Digital Edition from Oct. 21 through Nov.4.
“The trade ministry will continue promoting and increasing awareness and knowledge about Geographical Indication because it is an important component in increasing export through branding development strategy,” said Trade Ministry director general for National Export Development Didi Sumedi.
According to Didi, Indonesia has owned 101 products with Geographical Indication registered in Indonesia. “Some of the registered products are woven fabric, pepper, nutmeg, rice, tobacco, clove, vanilla, cashew nut, palm sugar, cinnamon, salt, silver handicraft, batik and some others, including nine products from overseas,” he added.
Currently, the government through the Law and Human Rights Ministry director general of Intellectual Property keeps pushing for identification and registration of Geographical Indication of products from 17.000 islands across Indonesia.
By using the correct Geographical Indications hopefully it will give higher added value for Indonesian spices.
In addition, director of Export Development Cooperation, Marolop Nainggolan, said the characteristic of Indonesian product is unique, making it potential to be developed. Known as The Spice Kingdom, the abundant natural resource and biodiversity making Indonesia an archipelago that prduces best agro products such as spices and natural food.
“We always give attention to the development of Geographical Indications Indonesia. The Trade Ministry will protect, promote and increase people’s awareness toward Indonesia’s Geographical Indication,” Marolop said.
Meanwhile, director for Brand and Geographical Indication at the Law and Human Rights Ministry, Adel Chandra said the use and management of a product based on Geographical Indication should be encouraged so that it is able to compete in global market.
“To respond to this challenge, the protection and development of product based on Geographical Indication from various regional areas become important and strategic efforts to enable contributing to national development,” he added. (KH)