UNISAME FELICITATES IPO FOR COMPLETING DRAFT GI PROTECTION LAW

The Union of Small and Medium Enterprises (UNISAME) and other stakeholders are invited by the Intellectual Property Organization (IPO) to give their inputs at the consultative session on draft geographical indications (GI) protection law on 17th August 2016 at a local hotel at Karachi.

President UNISAME Zulfikar Thaver lauded the efforts of the IPO in finally completing the draft GI protection law which is expected to become a bill after approval by the parliament and completion of other formalities. He expressed great satisfaction and said this was over due and in the absence of a GI law many of our products enjoying global reputation were deprived of their well deserved tags. He said that UNISAME has been pursuing the matter for many years with the government.

Thaver said we warned the government several times of the behavior of our global competitors who were exporting products under deception and claiming them to be of original repute. The GI law will go a long way and will be very supportive for the bonafide exporters.

The IPO has pointed out that the GI is a form of Intellectual Property Right (IPR) which identifies a product originating from a specific area and whose quality or reputation is attributable to its place of origin. The GIs are significant marketing tools which adds value and competitiveness to the products in the national and global markets.

Thaver said the SME basmati rice exporters were deeply concerned about the GI of basmati rice and also its trade mark ownership and had various communications with the policy makers to get matters straightened out in view of the complications created by the Indian stakeholders.

He reiterated that steps have to be taken to regain our super basmati markets and after promulgation of the GI law, the trade mark issue needs to be taken up seriously and after that the Ministry of Commerce (MINCOM) has to take steps to facilitate business with Iran to enable the exporters get back on the saddle.

He said it is pertinent to note that it is the duty of the stakeholders to make efforts to maintain the reputation of the GI products by research and development and abide by the bench mark by virtue of the characteristics and features which go with the GI reputation of the subject product.

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