The protection of geographical indications by Japan for Luc Ngan, Bac Giang lychee can be considered as a passport to bring our country's lychee to high-end markets. However, in order for that "passport" to really come to life, this locality will need to continue to have plans to effectively exploit the intellectual property as well as prepare for other key products of the province in the future. April 10 in Ho Chi Minh City, the Central Economic Committee in coordination with the Ministry of Science and Technology and the National University of Ho Chi Minh City held a workshop on “Developing human resources for materials industry to meet the requirements of industrialization and modernization until 2030,  vision to 2045.”

Quality assurance

In mid-March and early April, when litchi trees in Luc Ngan, Bac Giang were still blooming, Luc Ngan district quickly held conferences to discuss measures to support people in production and consumption of lychee in 2021. Although this locality develops a plan every year to promote litchi consumption, this year's crop is somewhat more special, because only half a month ago, Luc Ngan thieu litchi became the first product of Vietnam, protected geographical indications in the famous Japanese market, after nearly two years of efforts by both the locality and the National Office of Intellectual Property of Vietnam.

And to be able to effectively promote these intellectual property, it is certainly necessary to have close coordination between the locality and stakeholders, in which it is impossible not to mention the National Office of Intellectual Property of Vietnam. According to Mr. Dinh Huu Phi - Director of the Ntaional Office of Intellectual Property of Vietnam, the Department will participate in coordination with the Department of Science and Technology to develop plans and programs to support the development of local intellectual property. Accordingly, the Department will together with localities determine the list of products and trademarks to be registered according to the roadmap, with priority given first and next, and at the same time instructing localities on the registration procedures to build up regulations on management of intellectual property, such as geographical indications, collective trademarks, and etc.

The production of litchi for export to Japan represents a very small proportion of the total production of lychee in this region, but it has very high political significance because it affirms that Bac Giang farmers are qualified to produce export products to fastidious markets, thereby encouraging people to feel secure to work and preserve titles and common images.