Commerce set to organise GI market

BANGKOK, April 27 (TNA) -- The Commerce Ministry is set to join hands with Central Department Store to organise the GI Market 2017 for the second year in a row, aiming to promote GI products within the country and ASEAN. Director-general of the Department of Intellectual Property (DIP) Thosapone Dansuputra said that this year the DIP is scheduled to hold two major events to create awareness and acceptance on Geographical Indication or GI products among consumers. He said the first event would be held between April 27 to May 3 at CentralPlaza Chaengwattana, in which GI products from around the country produced by over 60 entrepreneurs would be gathered at the event. GI products are items which are produced specifically at one location through the use of natural methods and folk wisdom passed down through the years, which helped to create a products which is unique to that particular locality. Furthermore, to create understanding on GI products and for these goods to be well accepted, the GI symbol has been established as a guarantee the quality of the products, as well as help to increase opportunities for local entrepreneurs to generate more income and develop the local economy in line with the government's policy. Mr Thosapone said the next event is the GI Market 2017, set to be held between August 1-7 at CentralPlaza WestGate, this event would be even more special as GI products from other ASEAN member countries would also be in display. The aim of the fair in August is to show that GI products is a well known and accepted world standard. The DIP head then added that the commerce ministry would push for all provinces to have at least one GI product each within the year, as presently there are 76 GI products in Thailand from 53 provinces nationwide. (TNA)