OCOP promotes the value of geographical indications and collective trademarks.

Geographical indications and collective trademarks are considered "passports" that affirm the origin, quality, and reputation of agricultural products. In Thai Nguyen, protecting and promoting the value of geographical indications is opening up opportunities to elevate agricultural products, contributing to the sustainable development of the rural economy.

Bộ Khoa học và Công nghệ•13/10/2025

Community branding – enhancing the value of local agricultural products.

Tan Cuong tea is one of the brands protected by geographical indication since 2007. Thanks to this, the tea products from this region have gradually affirmed their position on the world tea map, creating a superior competitive advantage compared to many other tea-growing areas. In fact, many households in Tan Cuong earn hundreds of millions of dong annually from tea cultivation. "Tea cultivation brings both economic value and pride to the people here," shared Mr. Nguyen Thang, a resident of the Tan Cuong tea-growing region.

OCOP promotes the value of geographical indications and collective trademarks - Photo 1.

Along with that, cassava vermicelli in Con Minh commune (Bac Kan province) has also undergone a significant transformation since being granted the geographical indication certification "Bac Kan Cassava Vermicelli" in 2021. Thanks to this "passport," the product has reached supermarkets and specialty stores in many provinces and cities nationwide. More importantly, the geographical indication has created an impetus for cooperatives and production households to invest in upgrading machinery, standardizing processes, and building concentrated cassava raw material areas.

Mandarin oranges are a specialty fruit in many northern communes of the province, having been granted a geographical indication certificate "Bac Kan Mandarin Orange" since 2012. Meanwhile, "Bac Kan Seedless Persimmon" was granted a geographical indication protection certificate by the Intellectual Property Office in 2010 and was once among the top 100 famous Vietnamese brands. These are both distinctive regional products, slated to be developed into key local commodities.

To date, Thai Nguyen has 36 intellectual property protection certificates for its specialties and key products, including: 5 geographical indications, 5 certification marks, and 26 collective marks. Notably, the collective mark "Thai Nguyen Tea" has been protected in 6 countries and territories (the United States, China, Russia, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan); the geographical indication "Tan Cuong" has been protected in the European Union. These advancements affirm the local government's efforts to integrate Vietnamese agricultural products deeply into the international market.

Leveraging sustainable development

Geographical indications and collective trademarks are community brands that affirm the origin and value of local agricultural products. The "One Commune, One Product" (OCOP) program, on the other hand, focuses on developing distinctive regional products with high cultural and economic value. When these two elements combine, they create a synergistic force that helps Vietnamese agricultural products enhance their competitiveness, increase their value, and achieve sustainable development.

To date, Thai Nguyen province has 575 OCOP products, of which fresh and processed tea products account for nearly 200. The province's OCOP program aims to improve quality, increase economic value, and form a sustainable production chain linked to the unique advantages of the locality.

Protecting and promoting specialty brands not only enhances the value of agricultural products in the market but also demonstrates the effectiveness of applying science and technology in rural economic development. Intellectual property has become an important tool to improve the competitiveness of local agricultural products and goods, while also creating momentum for innovation in production and business.

OCOP promotes the value of geographical indications and collective trademarks - Photo 2.

The One Commune One Product (OCOP) program aims to develop the rural economy based on the advantages of each locality, through cooperative models, cooperative groups, and enterprises. When combined with geographical indications and collective trademarks, this program further enhances its role in organizing production, expanding markets, and improving competitiveness. This is a sustainable approach to building community brands, affirming the value of unique agricultural products, and contributing to rural economic development based on natural advantages, local culture, and science and technology.

Source: https://mst.gov.vn/ocop-phat-huy-gia-tri-chi-dan-dia-ly-nhan-hieu-tap-the-1972510112150461.htm