On September 6, WIPO Director General, Mr. Daren Tang, opened the 2021 edition of the WIPO Worldwide Symposium on Geographical Indications.  The Symposium was held virtually for the first time in its more than 30-year history.

More than 1600 participants registered for the Symposium from around the world and followed the presentations and ensuing discussion in the six official languages of WIPO.

In his opening speech, Mr. Tang highlighted the fact that “GIs are key drivers of growth and development around the world”, citing Kampot Pepper from Cambodia as evidence for this statement.  He went on to say that “GIs can have broad social utility and advance shared goals such as sustainability”.  In this regard, DG Tang reiterated “WIPO’s commitment to defining and implementing appropriate protection and commercialization schemes, so that local producers and rural communities are able to maximize the fruits of their labour”.

The Symposium’s program explored a wide range of perspectives on geographical indications, from selected international developments surrounding GIs, to questions of commercialization, trade and sustainability.

At the occasion of the Symposium, WIPO with the cooperation of some 40 of its Member States set up a virtual exhibition on geographical indications, which opened on September 6 and will run for a period of six months.