Binh Thuan (VNA) – The dragon fruit ofsouth-central Binh Thuan province was recently granted a protected geographicalindication (PGI) certificate in Japan, which is said to create bothopportunities and challenges.

The GI of “Thanh long Binh Thuan” (Binh Thuan dragon fruit) officially becameprotected in Japan on October 7 this year, making this fruit the second productof Vietnam to be given a PGI certificate in the North Asian country.

The acquisition of this certificate is an important milestone in the export ofdragon fruit to Japan, as well as in the promotion of GI certification forother agricultural products of Vietnam in this demanding market, Dinh Huu Phi,Director of the Intellectual Property Office of Vietnam, told a meeting held bythe Binh Thuan provincial People’s Committee on December 29.

He added it will also open up new chances for Vietnamese farm produce to enterother choosy markets like Europe, the Republic of Korea, and New Zealand.

Chairman of the Binh Thuan Dragon Fruit Association Vu Huy Hoang said productswith protected GIs in Japan will secure almost absolute trust from localconsumers and be sold at a much higher price than others there.

By the end of 2021, Binh Thuan has had over 33,000ha under dragon fruit cultivationwith an output of more than 690,000 tonnes.

Phi noted that gaining PGI certificates is an important stride but how tomaintain GIs is more important.

With a number of strict requirements in terms of production unit codes,quality, food safety, among others from Japan, the entire political system,from the provincial People’s Committee to departments, sectors, and the dragonfruit association, needs to engage in the management and development of thisGI.

Each party involved in farming, processing, trading, and distribution shouldcooperate with one another to ensure sustainable development of the sector.

During 2016 - 2020, businesses in Binh Thuan exported nearly 32,000 tonnes offresh dragon fruit worth 37 million USD via official channels. However, thevolume accounted for only 2 - 3 percent of the total shipments, while the restwas exported via unofficial channels.

Nguyen Minh, Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee, called forboosting communications to improve farmers and traders’ compliance withGI-related regulations, increasing advertisement of the Binh Thuan dragonfruit, cooperating to create a dragon fruit value chain, developing ane-commerce platform for the fruit, and forming specialised farming zonesapplying VietGAP standards./.