Specialty products from Nghe An have a great opportunity when they are granted intellectual property rights.

Opportunities for extensive market access.

Shrimp processing is a traditional occupation that has existed for decades, closely linked to the seafaring lives of fishermen in the two communes of Dien Bich and Dien Ngoc in Dien Chau district. A few years ago, the consumption volume was only around 20 tons per year.

With the goal of establishing a brand for the district's specialty peeled shrimp, the Dien Chau Peeled Shrimp Production and Business Association was founded in 2016 with 30 members. After production, the businesses will have representatives who will purchase, package, and distribute the shrimp.

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

In the first year since the establishment of the Association, the output of peeled shrimp exported to the market has increased to 30 tons/year, generating revenue of 230 billion VND. However, the lack of suitable labels and packaging makes it difficult for the product to compete in the market. Therefore, the 99 households involved in the trade, along with the local authorities, are making concerted efforts to develop and perfect the collective brand for Dien Chau peeled shrimp.

By October 2017, the households producing and trading peeled shrimp in Dien Chau were granted a Certificate of Registration for the collective trademark "Dien Chau Peeled Shrimp" by the Intellectual Property Office, along with specific operating regulations.

Oranges sold well at the Vinh - Nghe An Orange Fair 2017.

Mr. Nguyen Viet Hung, Deputy Director of the Department of Science and Technology, said: In 2017, 109 products in the province were granted intellectual property protection certificates. Among them, some agricultural products, after receiving intellectual property protection certificates, have gained recognition and trust from consumers inside and outside the province, thus increasing production and revenue. These include Cua Lo grilled mackerel, Thanh Chuong chicken, Dien Chau peeled shrimp, Quynh Luu dried squid, Vinh oranges, and Van Phan fish sauce.

Many agricultural products need intellectual property protection.

For a province like Nghe An, which has many key agricultural and forestry products, registering for geographical indications, certification marks, and collective marks is crucial to ensure the rights of all producers and businesses to use them.

To be granted the right to use these intellectual property rights, organizations and individuals must meet certain conditions; the product must meet specific quality criteria and adhere to a strict control system. This is one of the bases for ensuring the credibility, reputation, and origin of the product, and is also the reason why consumers are willing to pay a higher price for the product compared to other similar products on the market.

However, developing intellectual property rights to enhance the value of agricultural products cannot yield immediate results; it requires a persistent process: it necessitates consensus and enthusiastic participation from managers, scientists, producers, and businesses, thereby creating a sustainable supply chain to ensure stable development and high economic efficiency in the province's agricultural production areas.

To date, Nghe An province has granted intellectual property protection certificates to 883 industrial and agricultural products. In addition, five agricultural products have been labeled 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 receiving intellectual property certificates and traceability stamps, these products have gained recognition and trust from consumers both within and outside the province.