Closing Event of the Joint Georgian-Swiss Intellectual Property Project (GESIP) was Held

The closing event of the joint Georgian-Swiss Intellectual Property Project (GESIP) was held at “Ambasadori Kachreti”.

The Georgian-Swiss Intellectual Property Project (GESIP) is implemented with the financial support of the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), in close cooperation between the Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property (IPI) and Sakpatenti from August 1, 2022.

The main objective of the project is to introduce additional services in the patent field, share experience related to patent searches and promote the development of the geographical indications protection system in Georgia. 

At the closing event, Mr. Soso Giorgadze, Chairman of the National Intellectual Property Center of Georgia – “Sakpatenti”, addressed the audience. He highlighted the importance of improvement of user services in the field of intellectual property protection and development of effective mechanisms of protection of geographical indications, he also focused attention on the success achieved as a result of close cooperation within the project and the role of institutional strengthening of intellectual property in the socio-economic development of the country.

During the event, the successful activity of Sakpatenti in the recent years was emphasized. The importance of the new Law of Georgia “On Appellations of Origin and Geographical Indications of Goods”, adopted by the Parliament of Georgia on September 21, 2023, was highlighted particularly. The Law has regulated in a different way the procedure of registration of geographical indications and appellations of origin, in which the National Commission for Reviewing an Appellation of Origin and a Geographical Indication will be involved together with Sakpatenti. The Law has increased the functions of entrepreneurs unions and facilitated their strengthening. In addition, in accordance with international practice, the system for controlling products marked with appellations of origin and geographical indications has been established. The fact that last year Sakpatenti granted the status of geographical indication and appellation of origin to 5 more unique Georgian products should be considered as a result of the effective policy.

At the meeting, the event participants discussed the activities carried out within the cooperation and summarized the achieved results. Of these, the informational meetingsheld to share best practices with producers of GI products, as well as special training sessions delivered for staff members of Sakpatenti Department of Inventions and New Varieties and Breeds on Freedom to Operate (FTO) search are noteworthy. Special mention should be made of   the legal support provided to Sakpatenti by GESIP in the process of drafting and approving by-laws in the field of geographical indications. 

Ms. Mariam Svanidze, GESIP Project Coordinator, Mr. Tengiz Kalandadze, Head, Food Policy Department, Ministry of Agriculture of Georgia, Mr. Giorgi Chitadze, Deputy General Director, Georgian Accreditation Center, Ms. Darejan Mchedlidze, Head, Department of Trademarks, Geographical Indications and Design, Sakpatenti, and Ms. Ketevan Laperashvili, Deputy Head, Food Policy Department, Ministry of Agriculture of Georgia,  delivered presentations at the event. Mr. Tobias Eisenring, representative of the Swiss Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL), spoke about Swiss experience related to coordination between the offices involved in registration and management of GIs. The event was attended by: Mr. Rati Anjaparidze, National Program Officer, Embassy of Switzerland in Georgia, Ms. Nino Chikovani, Deputy Chairperson, National Intellectual Property Center – “Sakpatenti”, Ms. Mariam Gabunia, Head, Department for Foreign Trade Policy, Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia, Ms. Tamar Nikolozashvili, Head, Division for Trade Negotiations and Coordination of the DCFTA Implementation, as well as representatives of LEPL National Wine Agency and LEPL National Food Agency.