Photo: petrotimes.vn

Germany, Spain and the Benelux countries, comprising Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg, agreed to protect Vietnam’s “Buon Ma Thuot coffee” trademark, Chairman of the Buon Ma Thuot Coffee Association Duong Thanh Tuong has said.

In his address to the association’s second congress for 2014-2018 held in Buon Me Thuot city, the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak, on September 26, Tuong noted that 12 other countries are considering approving the trademark.

Reviewing the association’s activities in 2010-2013, he said it granted certificates of geographical indication (GI) to 10 coffee processing enterprises and promoted the trademark abroad.

It sought protection of its certification status for Buon Ma Thuot coffee in France, the US, Switzerland, China, Germany, Spain, the UK, Japan, Italy, Singapore, the Republic of Korea and the Benelux region.

In the next four years, the association will continue its bridging role, connecting its members with public-private agencies, proposing coffee development plans and applying for GI status inside and outside the European Union.

Dak Lak now boasts over 202,500ha of coffee plants, the largest coffee growing area in Vietnam, with an annual yield of 412,000 tonnes.

The province’s coffee beans have made their way to 80 countries and territories worldwide.

Source: VNA