12 October 2021, Tashkent – The Inception Workshop was held within the framework of the project “Strengthening sustainable food systems through geographical indications” that is implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). At the event the goals and objectives of the project were presented by national and international experts presented.
A geographical indication (GI) is a designation used for products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation that are due to that origin. This makes it possible to distinguish, for example, Parmesan, produced in the Italian provinces of Parma and Emilia-Romagna, from other cheeses, and champagne from sparkling wines made outside of French Champagne. There are several examples in Uzbekistan too: famous grapes grown in the Altyaryk region of the Fergana region, Bakhmal apples; gurvak melon; Samarkand flatbreads that have become the city’s “calling card”, Jizzakh samsa and other culinary masterpieces.
Given the unique climatic conditions, geographical location and well-established agricultural traditions, Uzbekistan is the largest producer and exporter of agricultural goods in the Central Asian region. Uzbekistan’s agriculture and food processing sectors offer a wide range of high quality fruits, melons and wines with exceptional taste and aromatic features well-recognizable in its traditional export markets. In addition, Uzbekistan is famous for its handcrafted varieties of national ceramics and traditional knives centres located in Rishtan of Ferghana region and Chust of Namangan region.
“The country has vast opportunities to expand its current capabilities further by introducing advance marketing practices and information technologies in its agriculture sector. In this regard, introduction of geographical indications system could serve as a driving force for sustainable value chains and rural development”, – said Sherzod Umarov, Assistant FAO Representative in Uzbekistan.
The FAO project “Strengthening sustainable food systems through geographical indications” is implemented in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture of Uzbekistan and includes introduction of GIs practices for the selected products through awareness raising campaigns and capacity development measures, developing and implementing an effective GI marketing strategy as well as framing agricultural market information support in the context of GIs for facilitating agrifood export promotion and improvement of value chain. An established system of Geographical Indications management and protection will allow producers to receive socio-economic benefits from the use of geographical indications, and consumers, in turn, will receive a guarantee that a particular product has excellent quality and unique properties.
FAO also supported the Intellectual Property Agency under the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Uzbekistan in developing a draft of a new Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan ‘On Geographical Indications’ taking into account the best international experience.
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