130 Georgian products apply for geographical indications

Georgia is cementing its international reputation as a producer of high quality agricultural products by giving geographical indications to about 130 products to improve their export opportunities.

About 130 new geographical indications specifications were prepared for registration today during the 'International Conference on Branding Strategies' that was held in Georgia’s capital Tbilisi.

Organised by the World Intellectual Property Organisation and the National Intellectual Property Centre 'Sakpatenti', the event introduced Georgian farmers and entrepreneurs to the advantages of geographical indications.

More than 120 farmers and entrepreneurs attended the conference from every region of Georgia to learn new marketing tools and how to improve the export opportunities of the products they produce.

Currently more than 40 types of products (wine, mineral water, cheese, and more) produced in Georgia have applied for geographical indications.

Meanwhile 130 more products will undergo a special examination to find their original place of production.

Among the 130 products were wild plum, Colchian hazelnut, Rachan ham, Kharagauli caesar’s mushroom, Choporti tomato, Lagodekhi watermelon, Colchian bay leaf, Khelvachauri tangerine, Tabatsquri carrot and Marneuli potato.

Approving Georgia-made products with geographical indications was important as it showed Georgian products were of high quality and allowed the goods to be better positioned in European Union (EU) markets.

The cost of products with geographical indications was about two times higher than other similar product without the geographical indications.