Hanoi’s authorities expect to have at least 60% of specialties under the One Commune One Product (OCOP) program protected by intellectual property (IP) law by 2030, as part of its goal stated in the City Intellectual Property Development Program by 2030.

An OCOP sale point in Thanh Tri District. Photo: The Hanoi Times

By 2030, at least 80% of enterprises will be aware of IP protection through training courses, according to the latest decision on the program by 2030 signed by Deputy Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Chu Xuan Dung.

The number of patent and trademark applications will increase by an annual average of 16-18% and 8-10%, respectively. Among 60% of  specialties whose IP rights are protected, at least four would be exported to overseas markets.

The registration for protection and effective management of IP rights for specialty products will contribute to maintaining and developing brands for enterprises, business households and cooperatives in the capital’s rural areas, then boosting the socio-economic development of the city, according to local insiders.

The city will continue to mobilize resources with the strong participation of people and businesses to implement the program in the coming time.

Acting Director of the Hanoi Department of Industry and Trade Tran Thi Phuong Lan said the city has deployed activities to support business households and cooperatives in the city to build and promote brands through training courses on brand identity system for many years. 

Nguyen Anh Tuan, Deputy Director of the municipal Department of Science and Technology said products recognized by OCOP and protected by IP law will be enhanced in quality, value and competitiveness on domestic and potential foreign markets. For OCOP products with export potential, brand protection becomes even more essential.

He recommended the city needs to improve management efficiency, exploit and develop certification and collective marks, geographical indications and OCOP-labeled products associated with growing area codes, food safety, as well as quality and authentication certification, product traceability, thereby fostering and implementing other trade promotion activities. 

The department counseled and guided 31 organizations and individuals to complete procedures for industrial property protection (25 trademark applications, six patent applications, one utility solution application and eight industrial design ones), he added.

Last year, the municipal department's IP Management Division organized 18 training courses on brand development for handicraft villages with 1,260 participants.

In 2020, among 27 approved IP projects according to Decision No. 4506, twenty-two were related to OCOP products. 

The chosen projects were Yen Nghia safe vegetable (Ha Dong District), Dan Phuong flowers (Dan Phuong District); Do Dong rice (Thanh Oai District); Huong Ngai potatoes (Thach That District), and Dong Cao red pomelo (Me Linh District).