BARAN: "THE VALUE OF OUR PRODUCT, WHICH SHOULD RECEIVE NEARLY 2,000 GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATION REGISTRATION, IS 20 BILLION DOLLARS".

18 June 2021 - Ankara Chamber of Commerce (ATO) has carried out a new study after the "International Geographical Indications Summit" organized in 2017 and 2019 with the aim of raising awareness about geographically indicated products and bringing these products to the economy. Organized a meeting to introduce the "Geographical Indications" book, in which the subject was discussed in full detail with many titles such as the concepts of Geographical Indications, product registration stages, inspection, branding, cooperatives, and commercialization of geographically indicated products. Referring to the importance of Geographical Indications for the Turkish economy, Baran said, "We have nearly 2,000 products that need to be registered, and the value of these products is around 20 billion dollars."

The meeting, hosted by the Ankara City Council, was attended by Ankara Governor Vasip Þahin, Ankara University Rector Prof. Dr. Necdet Ünüvar, Ankara Commodity Exchange Chairman Faik Yavuz and many participants took part.

Speaking at the opening of the meeting, ATO President Baran said about the "Geographical Indications Book", which provides Turkey's most comprehensive information on geographical indications to date, "It is a book that has the quality of a work and enables every segment from the producer to the consumer to directly access the information they want."

Stating that they have focused on the added value that geographical indications will provide to the country's economy since they took office, Baran said, "Geographic indication is a phenomenon that adds value to countries. Geographical Indication registration increases the quality of the product while protecting the producer and the consumer. By making it possible to standardize products, it prevents information pollution in the market. Geographical indications, which keep the rural population in place by making the producers see value, encourage the diversity of agricultural production and the production of unique products. Baran noted that the value of products with geographical indications has also increased in the market.

Noting that there are 200 billion dollars of geographical indication registered products in the world, the number of which reaches 10 thousand, Baran said, "A revenue of 77 million euros is obtained from 3,732 geographical indication registered products in the European Union, and 50 percent of this income belongs to France and Italy."

Noting that the number of products registered with geographical indication in Turkey is 776, Baran said, "The added value of these to our country is one and a half billion euros.

We have 715 more products pending registration. According to the information we obtained from the Trademark Patent Institute, we have nearly 2,000 products that need to be registered, and the value of these products is around 20 billion dollars.

Stating that they put the Geographical Indications Book on the website of ATO for the benefit of everyone, Baran said, "It has become a book that has the quality of a work and that allows every segment from the producer to the consumer to directly access the information they want.

17 PRODUCTS ARE TOO LITTLE FOR ANKARA

Ankara Governor Vasip Þahin stated that geographical indication registrations are not only a matter of economy and said, "Geographic indication is a developing and prominent phenomenon of the last period. Turkey has at least 2,500 products that can be registered as of its current potential. It should be our duty to introduce this to the world and make it accepted as soon as possible. 17 geographical indication is a very small number for Ankara. With the launch of our book today, we have made the first move to turn the wheel, and we hope that the next one will follow, "he said.

NEW SUMMIT IS IN 2022

Ankara Chamber of Commerce Board Treasurer M. Ülkü Karakuþ noted that after the Geographical Indications Summit they held in 2017 and 2019, they continued their work on the subject with the book "Geographical Indications".

Noting that they are planning to hold the third summit in 2022, Karakuþ also stated that the competitive environment has increased in terms of geographical indications, which are important for the development of the country. Pointing out that Turkey has more product potential than the number of endemic products in the European Union, Karakuþ said that Geographical Indications have a great impact on gastronomy tourism. Karakuþ said, "We can be the country that will be preferred by tourists who want to see historical cultural textures, increase their knowledge skills and try local delicacies."

Saying, "Geographical indication is claiming something that belongs to you," Ankara University Rector Pof. Dr. Necdet Ünüvar said that all citizens should take it as their duty to protect these values. Noting that geographical indication is not only a matter of trade or economy, Ünüvar said, "Owning values is an element that enables us to increase the brand value of our city."

PRODUCTS ARE IMPORTANT TO CULTURE CONTINUITY

Reþit Serhat Taþkýnsu, Secretary General of Ankara Metropolitan Municipality, said that the Geographical Indications book is a very important resource. Taþkýnsu said, "Each city of our country has a different geographical indication potential. Each of the products is very important in terms of cultural continuity and also contributes to the country's economy. More than 700 of our products have been registered by the Turkish Patent Institute, but we have only 7 products registered in the European Union. These need to be registered very quickly and opened to the international market. In this sense, I find the Geographical Indications Book is very useful."

ATO Assembly President Mustafa Deryal, Ankara City Council President Halil Ýbrahim Yýlmaz, ATO Board Members Halil Ýlik and Süleyman Ekinci, Ankara Metropolitan Municipality Deputy Mayor Sercan Çýðgýn, Ankara Provincial Culture and Tourism Director Ali Ayvazoðlu, Ankara Metropolitan Municipality Deputy Secretary General Faruk Çýnký, Ankara City Council Kale Assembly Spokesperson Þevket Bülend Yahnici, Rural Services Department Ahmet Mekin Tüzün have attended to the meeting.