Photo credit: STREIT PNG Programme Facebook Page
Stephen Mombi, the Acting Secretary of Agriculture and Livestock, complimented the European Union for sponsoring the EU-STREIT PNG Program, which focuses on the development of sustainable agri-food value chains in the Sepik area.
Mr Mombi was presenting at a two-day Geographical Indication (GI) Awareness Conference recently hosted in Port Moresby by the EU-funded UN Joint STREIT Programme in collaboration with the PNG Investment Promotion Authority.
Mr Mombi explained GI as an intellectual property certification that helps develop brand names for traditional original products to feed the overseas markets, citing the country's vision to build a modern climate-smart business-oriented agriculture sector with diverse products and international cooperation in this sector.
He stressed that GI is a new road map and an ongoing adventure in which the government is excited to participate.
Meanwhile, IPA Managing Director Clarence Hoot stated that GI is entrenched in PNG Trade Policy as a major strategic area to continue to argue for the extension of protection for particular items unique to PNG Geography, such as coffee.
He stated, “The role played by the EU-STREIT PNG in GI initiative as a huge step in the right direction for agriculture and for Government's agencies to take notice that GI is an opportunity to improve infrastructure, facilities and the processes to help our local farmers.”
The workshops were delivered by Pavel Burian, the EU-STREIT PNG's Deputy Programme Coordinator, who emphasized that trademark registration of items originating from PNG under GI seeks to preserve distinctive expertise, regionally related and traditional qualities, and manufacturing techniques.
He went on to say that the conference was a novel concept that was part of a collective consultation process to propose trademark law reforms.
"Together with the Intellectual Property Office of IPA, we already took initial steps to revise relevant framework, primarily the Trademark Law and related legislation, launched identification of pilot products. We started preparation of a roadmap for Geographical Indication implementation to PNG legal framework and its full-scale rollout nation-wide,” said Dr Burian.
Representatives of locally created chocolate, vanilla, coconut, and fish products presented a panel discussion on the details of their goods and how they might be certified under GI during the conference.
Reference: Loop (21 January 2022). “Mombi Lauds EU Program”.
