The Bangladesh Institute of Management (BIM) marked Pahela Baishakh on Tuesday by hosting an exhibition on Geographical Indication (GI) products and discussion on their commercial expansion.
Held at BIM’s Sobhanbagh campus, the second edition of “GI Product Exhibition and Open Discussion on Commercial Expansion of GI Products” brought, under a single roof, a significant number of registered GI products of Bangladesh, drawing a diverse crowd, including senior government officials, BIM faculty members, current and former trainees, business leaders and social workers.
The primary objectives of the event were to enhance public awareness of GI products, encourage increased GI registration, engage participants of BIM’s Postgraduate Diploma in Supply Chain Management (PGDSCM) in GI-related activities, explore domestic and international market expansion opportunities, and revitalise and promote intellectual property (IP) training initiatives.
As the lone institution in Bangladesh offering short-term training on intellectual property, the BIM organised the event as part of its initial efforts to reinvigorate IP-related activities, with a special focus on the commercial potential, cultural value, and growing popularity of GI products.
Holding the event on Pahela Baishakh, the country’s most significant cultural festival, added further significance to the initiative.
Industries Secretary Md Obaidur Rahman attended the event as the chief guest with BIM Director General Md Nuruzzaman in the chair.
In the first session of the open discussion, Sayeedur Rahman, Head of Research at BIM, presented the institute’s progress and future plans in IP training.
In the second session, the industries secretary emphasised the need for greater promotion of GI products and instructed the use of the official GI logo in designing GI gift boxes.
Citing the example of South Korea, he encouraged further experimentation, particularly in developing diverse GI-based food menus.
Officials of the Department of Patents, Industrial Designs and Trademarks (DPDT) highlighted the challenges associated with forming GI producers’ associations.
Abdul Baten, a prominent entrepreneur and owner of the safe-food venture “Shuponno,” expressed interest in marketing authentic GI products through his outlets and proposed that GI products be showcased at educational institutions.
Uttam Kumar Datta of BIM emphasised the importance of exhibition and commercialisation, while Rana Mirza, Head of Supply Chain at icddr,b, underscored the need for specialised transportation systems and cold-chain facilities for agro-based GI products.
DPDT Director General Md Jahangir Hossain highlighted the importance of using appropriate graphics in the commercialisation of GI products to avoid confusion regarding authenticity.
In his closing remarks, the industries secretary underscored the need for undertaking projects for the formation and strengthening of GI producers’ associations to enhance value addition in the rural economy.
He also called for the development of a documentary on GI products for wider dissemination and instructed the establishment of a dedicated unit within DPDT to manage GI products and their users.