Georgian economy minister vows development of intellectual property system as “priority”
Addressing participants of the conference - dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the national intellectual property centre Sakpatenti - Davitashvili also emphasised the importance of developing the system of geographical indications. Photo: ministry of economy
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Georgian economy minister Levan Davitashvili on Wednesday said the development of the intellectual property system was one of the “important and priority” directions of the Georgian government.
Davitashvili said “protection of intellectual property rights accelerates the process of economic development, creates new branches of industry and jobs, improves the quality of living conditions” while speaking at the international conference Role of Intellectual Property Agencies in the National Innovation Ecosystem.
Addressing participants of the conference - dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the national intellectual property centre Sakpatenti - Davitashvili also emphasised the importance of developing the system of geographical indications as an "effective tool for increasing the export potential and competitiveness of Georgian products".
He said the protection of geographical indications was a "constituent part" of the deep and comprehensive free trade agreement deal signed between the European Union and Georgia and was "one of the strategic directions" of the country’s agricultural development.
Currently, more than 60 of the products produced in Georgia are registered as geographical indications, a large part of which is exported", the economy ministry said, naming wine, mineral water and cheese among examples.
Davitashvili said Georgia was “first among the countries with a transitioning economy” to host the professional development course based on a decision of the World Intellectual Property Organisation Academy. The Minister explained the course was intended to help raise qualifications of professionals of intellectual property agencies of different countries and experts of relevant public bodies.
Daren Tang and Levan Davitashvili. Photo: ministry of economy
Davitashvili also met Daren Tang, the general director of the WIPO, to discuss deepening cooperation with the organisation. The meeting discussed “priority areas” of cooperation between Georgia and the international body, as well as current and future projects implemented in Georgia with its support.
The meeting also discussed “long-term initiatives” of cooperation with WIPO and prospects for their implementation, including further expansion of activities for development of an “appropriate system” for the protection of geographical indications and creation of a global international platform contributing to the strengthening of the intellectual property system in Georgia and economic development of the country.
Georgian spicy sauce ajika and sour plum sauce tkemali will acquire geographical indications - a domestic status confirming their origin and uniqueness, the National Intellectual Property Centre of Georgia announced on Thursday.
In order to protect the geographical indication of Georgian mineral water brand of Borjomi, the National Intellectual Property Centre Sakpatenti has registered it in China as a brand of Georgian origin. "From now on, in China, the use of the name of origin 'Borjomi' without the consent of the Ministry of Environment and Agriculture of Georgia will be banned", says Sakpatenti.
Honey from Ninotsminda, the Samtskhe-Javakheti region has been added to the list of geographical indications.
Ham from Racha, a region in western Georgia and peaches from Gurjaani, a city in eastern Georgia, will be added to the list of geographical indications.
Georgian prime minister Irakli Garibashvili on Friday discussed “fruitful cooperation”, ongoing and future projects with Daren Tang, the director general of the World Intellectual Property Organisation in a Tbilisi meeting, the government administration said.
Georgian deputy economy minister Genadi Arveladze on Tuesday told the Eastern Partnership Forum in Prague, Czechia the “correct policy” of the Georgian government to diversify its export markets had reduced the country’s reliance on the Russian market.
Georgian prime minister Irakli Garibashvili on Thursday met Soso Giorgadze, the newly appointed chair of the national intellectual property centre Sakpatenti, to review current and planned projects of the body, the government administration said.
Levan Davitashvili, the minister of economy of Georgia, on Friday praised the “fruitful business and economic cooperation” between his country and the United States at an annual conference dedicated to 25 years of the America-Georgia Business Council, a non-profit corporation working to promote trade, business and government relations between the two countries.
Products from Georgia and Moldova will be ensured to bear indications on their geographical origins in the two countries, after authorities signed a deal in Tbilisi on Wednesday.