Nghe An specialty products have great opportunities when they are protected by intellectual property.

Opportunity to access the market deeply

Shrimp production has been a traditional occupation for decades, associated with the seafaring life of fishermen in Dien Bich and Dien Ngoc communes, Dien Chau district. A few years ago, the consumption output was only 20 tons/year.

From the determination to build a brand for the district's specialty shrimp, in 2016, the Dien Chau Shrimp Production and Trading Association was established with 30 members. After production, the establishments will have people to purchase, package and consume.

People in Dien Ngoc craft village peel and process shrimp. Photo: Mai Giang

After 1 year of establishment of the Association, the output of peeled shrimp exported to the market has increased to 30 tons/year, with a revenue of 230 billion VND. However, due to the lack of appropriate labels and packaging, the products are still difficult to compete in the market. Therefore, the construction of a collective brand of Dien Chau peeled shrimp has always been invested in and completed by 99 households working in the profession together with the authorities at all levels.

By October 2017, Dien Chau peeled shrimp production and trading households were granted the Certificate of Collective Trademark Registration "Dien Chau peeled shrimp" by the Intellectual Property Department, along with specific operating regulations.

Oranges sell well at Vinh Orange Fair - Nghe An 2017

Mr. Nguyen Viet Hung - Deputy Director of the Department of Science and Technology said: In 2017, there were 109 products in the province that were granted intellectual property protection certificates. Among them, some agricultural products, after being granted intellectual property protection certificates, have become known and trusted by many consumers inside and outside the province, so output and revenue have increased. These are Cua Lo grilled mackerel, Thanh Chuong chicken, Dien Chau shrimp, Quynh Luu dried squid, Vinh oranges, and Van Phan fish sauce.

Many agricultural products need intellectual property protection.

For a province with many agricultural and forestry specialties as key products like Nghe An, the forms of registration for protection of geographical indications, certification marks and collective marks to ensure the rights of use of the entire community of producers and businesses are very important.

To be granted the right to use these intellectual property objects, organizations and individuals must meet certain conditions, the products must ensure that they meet specific quality criteria and must comply with a strict control system. This is one of the bases to help ensure the prestige, reputation and origin of the product, and is also the reason why consumers are willing to pay a higher price for the product than other similar products on the market.

However, developing intellectual property rights to increase the value of agricultural products cannot be achieved overnight, but requires perseverance throughout the process: there needs to be consensus and enthusiastic participation of managers, scientists, producers and businesses, thereby creating a sustainable chain of links so that the province's agricultural production areas can develop stably and bring high economic efficiency.

Up to now, Nghe An has had 883 industrial and agricultural products... granted intellectual property protection certificates. In addition, there are 5 agricultural products with traceability stamps: Vinh oranges, Van Phan fish sauce (Dien Chau), Sa Nam soy sauce (Nam Dan), guava (Nghia Dan) and chicken (Thanh Chuong). After being granted intellectual property certificates and having traceability stamps, the reputation of the products has been known and trusted by consumers inside and outside the province.