The EU Funded Twinning Project on “Establishing Efficient Protection and Control System of Geographical Indications (GIs) in Georgia” Began

On March 28, 2019, a meeting took place at Sakpatenti Office in Mtskheta, within the Twinning Project on “Establishing Efficient Protection and Control System of Geographical Indications (GIs) in Georgia”, funded by the European Union, where the parties discussed and signed the action plan for the first six months of the Project implementation.

The meeting was attended by representatives of Sakpatenti, the Ministry of Agriculture of Italy, the Embassy of France in Turkey, representatives of the Delegation of the European Union to Georgia, the Ministry of Agriculture of Georgia, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, the National Wine Agency, the Customs Department of the Revenue Service, as well as representatives of the Embassies of Italy and France.

The Project to Introduce Effective Geographical Indications Protection and Control System in Georgia is implemented in cooperation with the consortium of Italy and France. The main beneficiary of the Project is the National Intellectual Property Center of Georgia Sakpatenti. Other participants of the Project are the Ministry of Agriculture of Georgia, LEPL National Wine Agency, the National Food Agency and the Customs Department of the Revenue Service of the Ministry of Finance.

The objective of the Project is to support the development of the geographical indications and appellations of origin system in Georgia and its harmonization with the GI protection system functioning in the European Union. The Project allows, through sharing experience and knowledge of leading countries in this direction, France and Italy, to create administrative and institutional mechanisms which will enhance the GI protection and control system in Georgia, as well as will strengthen the capacity and deepen the knowledge of the national institutions in this field. The Project also envisages increasing the role of producers associations and unions in the geographical indications protection system.

The field of appellations of origin and geographical indications is one of the priority directions for Georgia. It is already universally recognized as an effective tool for producing high quality and competitive agricultural goods, increasing their export potential and development of agriculture in the regions.  

1.500,000 € is allocated by the European Union for the two-year Twinning Project  on “Establishing Efficient Protection and Control System of Geographical Indications (GIs) in Georgia”.