IMPROVING GLOBAL COMPETITIVENESS OF NIGERIA S AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS THROUGH GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATIONS (GIs)

Transcription

1 IMPROVING GLOBAL COMPETITIVENESS OF NIGERIA S AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS THROUGH GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATIONS (GIs) Sand Mba Kalu Executive Director Africa International Trade and Commerce Research Trade Research Invest in Africa Policy Presentation at the 3 rd Non-oil Exporter Dialogue Theme: Enhancing Trade Across Borders Sheraton hotels, Alausa, Ikeja,Nigeria 3 rd & 4 th July. 2018

2 STAKEHOLDER AWARENESS OF GIs Past event awareness Survey: Have you ever heard of the word Geographical Indications (GIs) prior to the event?

3 DEFINITION OF GIs A "geographical indications" (GIs) is the name of a product(s) where a given quality, reputation or other characteristic of the product(s) is essentially attributable to its local origin.

4 GIs FACT SHEET GI Started gaining international recognition during the Paris Convention on the Protection of Intellectual Property in The word Protected Geographical Indication emanated from series of World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) agreements

5 GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT OF GIs Consumers: Increasing demand worldwide for unique origin products featuring a connect with their heritage. Encourage: A growing number of local agricultural products, worldwide, be registered as GIs. Strategic: GIs is being considered as a tool to support the achievement of food security

6 CATEGORIES OF GIs Protected Geographical indication (PGI): Product whose reputation or characteristics is closely linked to production in the geographical area. Protected Designation of Origin (PDO): Is the term given to a product that is produced, processed and prepared in a defined geographical area using recognized know-how. Government labelling and certification rules, trade mark, country label, etc

7 Country Number of GI EU India 282 China 2790 Thailand 87 USA 206 Brazil 59 Cameroun 2 Nigeria 0 REGISTERED GIs IN SELECTED COUNTRIES

8 WORLDWIDE VALUE OF GIs EU- GIs agriculture products worth about 54.3 billion worldwide, 2012 EU-GIs products Represent 15% of total food and drinks exports. Over the period : 56% of EU food and agricultural products have GIs protected names- ( 30.4 billion) EU Agricultural products and foodstuffs is 29% GIs ( 15.8 billion)

9 EU AND CHINA GIs PRODUCTS What is products bilateral agreement entered between EU and China in 2012? It is the registration of 10 renowned European products in the official AQSIQ Chinese GIs register DESIGNATION COUNTRY TYPE OF PRODUCT COMTÉ France Cheese GRANA PADANO Italy Cheese PRIEGO DE CÓRDOBA Spain Olive oil PROSCIUTTO DI PARMA Italy Ham PRUNEAUX D'AGEN/PRUNEAUX D'AGEN MI-CUITS France Dried fruit ROQUEFORT France Cheese SCOTTISH FARMED SALMON United Kingdom Salmon SIERRA MÁGINA Spain Olive oil WEST COUNTRY FARMHOUSE CHEDDAR WHITE STILTON CHEESE/BLUE STILTON CHEESE United Kingdom United Kingdom Cheese Cheese

10 In the EU the following 10 Chinese GIs products have been added to the GI register Designation Latin Transcription Type of product Type Registration date 平谷大桃 Pinggu Da Tao peach PDO 09/11/2012 盐城龙虾 Yancheng Long Xia crayfish PGI 17/08/2012 镇江香醋 Zhenjiang Xiang Cu rice vinegar PGI 14/06/2012 东山白卢笋 CHINA TO EU GIs PRODUCTS Dongshan Bai Lu Sun asparagus PGI 30/11/2012 金乡大蒜 Jinxiang Da Suan garlic PGI 01/11/2011 龙井茶 Longjing cha tea PDO 11/05/2011 琯溪蜜柚 Guanxi Mi You honey pomelo PDO 11/05/2011 陕西苹果 Shaanxi ping guo apple PDO 11/05/2011 蠡县麻山药 Lixian Ma Shan Yao yam PGI 11/05/2011 龙口粉丝 Longkou Fen Si vermicelli/noodles PGI 30/10/2010

11 NIGERIA GIs COMPETITIVENESS Nigeria has a remarkably diverse agricultural produce that can make us very competitive

12 POTENTIAL GIs IN NIGERIA Fura Yam Pepper Awori Mat Egusi Kola nut Nigeria Arts & Craft Ugu Ijebu garri

13 BENEFIT TO CONSUMERS Quality assurance: Consumers are assured of buying genuine product with specific qualities Preservation of cultural heritage Support Environmental sustainability

14 GIs BENEFIT TO PRODUCERS Poverty elimination: GIs agricultural product will support the elimination of poverty among producers Fair competition: To all local producers only that comply with the specification Protection: Local producers are protected from infringement Price premium: a study on GIs products found that GIs label products are sold (in average) 2.23 times as high as a comparable non-gis products

15 GIs BENEFITS TO NIGERIA Link premium market to valuable products of rural areas: production cannot be delocalised to another area. National Identity and Pride Foreign revenue earning and contribution to GDP Job creation and employment opportunity assured for future generations Protect tradition, norms and culture

16 CHALLENGES OF ESTABLISING GIs PRODUCTS IN NIGERIA 1. Poor awareness and lack of information 2. Institutional challenges deficient IP laws 3. Resource challenge Human and material 4. Generic challenge 5. Lack of comprehensive database 6. Framework for protection

17 GOING FORWARD- HOW CAN WE DEVELOP NIGERIA GI PRODUCTS Developing 10 years strategic plan There are three main ways to start the protection of a geographical indication:.through TOP- DOWN APPROACH..THROUGH BOTTOM-UP APPROACH so-called sui generis systems (i.e. special regimes of protection); using collective or certification marks; and methods focusing on business practices, including administrative product approval schemes.

18 ADOPTING TOP-DOWN APPROACH (GOVERNMENT LEAD) Creating awareness and Capacity Building Make GI issue a National policy priority agenda Independent study (empirical evidence) to support the database Adopt GI protocols to protect Nigeria GI products Secure Nigeria full Membership of The African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO). And sensitize Nigerians about World Intellectual Property Organisation protocols Start engaging bilateral and multilateral agreements on Nigeria GI products..but It is possible to register GI with minimal government involvement

19 ADOPTING BOTTOM- UP APPROACH (NON-GOVERNMENT LEAD) 1. Initiate step: Awareness, Capacity building (community of practice), stakeholders mapping, Consultation and Participatory discussions. 2. Identification: Descriptions of territory, Assessment of available resources, unique characteristics of local food, peculiar production system and marketability of the product. 3. Setting of rule: Detail product description, Analysis of entry barriers, defining roles. 4. Reappraisal and Marketing building organization to submit and manage the GI for proper certification and recognition.

20 Awareness and Capacity building GI is Key to generating local rural areas viable- Market Access Stakeholders have to mobilize farmers/producers towards the identification of GIs Push for advocacy so government can adopt proactive measures towards GIs Establishment of National database through research that link agricultural GI produce in Nigeria Lets take Action Now! CONCLUSION

21 Thank you

22 Contact detail: Name: Sand Mba Kalu Tel: web:

23 REFERENCE Obi Chinedu T., Ph.D. Student- Agriculture, Food and Environment. University of Pisa, Italy, M.Sc. International Rural Development, Ghent University, Belgium Dr. Osita Aniemeka, FIMC, CMC- Program Director, South East Entrepreneurship Development Center, One SEEDC Place, Beside CBN, Ogurube Layout, Umuahia, Abia State NIGERIA,