New additions bring GI list to 120 items
The government yesterday added pha mor hom phrae (mauhom fabric based in Phrae province) and hom thong pa
thum bananas to the country’s geographical indication (GI) list, a move to generate income for communities.
The addition raises the number of Thai indigenous products with GI registration from the Commerce Ministry to 120 products in 76 provinces.
GI is a distinctive certificate used to identify a product as originating from a particular country, region or locality that has specific qualities, reputation or other unique characteristics.
The certification of unique characteristics and quality typically increases the market value in developed countries.
Deputy Commerce Minister Weerasak Wangsuphakijkosol said the GI certification will help protect the branding of the community’s indigenous products and build consumer confidence in the products’ quality and local wisdom.
The government is committed to developing and promoting GI products in every province this year to generate income for communities. Last year GI products generated sales worth more than 5 billion baht.
Ang Thong is the only province yet to register a GI product, though it has proposed the Ekkarat drum for certification.
The cabinet on Feb 18 last year ordered the Interior Ministry to promote each province developing GI products to generate community income and add value.
The government aims to raise sales from GI products to more than 30 billion baht by 2024, while linking GI to tourism.
GI product sales topped 5.2 billion baht last year, up from 4 billion in 2018 and 3.7 billion in 2017.