Road Map for Geographical Indications
İzmir Commodity Exchange and, The Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Türkiye organized a seminar themed “Recent Developments in Geographical Indications in Türkiye and The World” was held on Monday, May 18; in İzmir.
Izmir Commodity Exchange members, Governorship of Izmir, The Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Türkiye, Turkish Patent Institute, French National Origin and Quality Institute (INOA), Organization for an International Geographical Indications Network (OriGIn), Agricultural Chancellor of the French Embassy in Ankara, Chambers and Commodity Exchanges representatives, representatives of Local Products and Geographical Indications Research Network in Türkiye (YÜCİTA), agricultural industry representatives and academics; attended the seminar.
Chairperson of Izmir Commodity Exchange Işınsu Kestelli who made the opening speech said: “It is very important to protect the fundamental rights on a global scale to sustainable production for the countries with very strong local elements such as Türkiye. Geographical Indications protect not only a single manufacturer, but all of the people who produce under certain circumstances. Geographical Indications have local, regional, national generality in terms of anonymity and the rights which are provided by Geographical Indications, cannot be linked to a certain person or some people. Therefore geographical Indication is a national issue for Türkiye. Based on this, as Izmir Commodity Exchange, we took Geographical Indication registrations for traditional and worldwide known products which are raisins, dried figs and cotton qua “Aegean Sultanas”, “Aegean Fig” and “Aegean Cotton” with the application made in 2003.”
After the opening speeches; Columnist of Dunya Daily Newspaper Ali Ekber Yıldırım was the moderator of first session that was entitled as “Where Does Türkiye Stand in Geographical Indication Applications?” Brand Specialist of Turkish Patent Institute Ayşe Özünel, Chairperson of YUCITA (Local Products and Geographical Indications Research Network in Türkiye) Prof. Dr. Yavuz Tekelioğlu and Purchasing Manager of METRO Gross Market Ayşin Işıkgece made their presentations.
Izmir Economy University, Faculty of Business and İzmir Province Academic Advisor of TOBB Assoc. Prof. Dr. Alper Duman was the moderator of the second session that was entitled as “Latest International Developments Regarding Geographical Indications” Agricultural Chancellor in the French Embassy in Ankara Pierre Autissier, Representative of Organization for an International Geographical Indications Network İda Puzone and Representative of French National Origin and Quality Institute Florence Gravier made their presentations.
Under the Chairmanship of Prof. Dr. Selim Çağatay, third session that was entitled as “TOBB Experience in Geographical Indications and Forum”, İzmir Commodity Exchange Deputy Secretary General Dr. Pınar Nacak, Representative of Gemlik Commodity Exchange Doç. Dr. Sertaç Dokuzlu and Representative of Kayseri Chamber of Commerce Birsen Koca shared their experiences related to Geographical Indications. At the end of the session, representatives of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges uttered their experiences, issues and proposals.
18.05.2015
