Opportunities and Challenges of Geographical Indications in Central Asia

Abstract

Geographical indications (GIs) are defined as “a sign used on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation that are due to that origin”. GIs have become potentially beneficial trademarks for domestic and international trade in agricultural products. Among the benefits of GIs are improved consumer information; higher incomes for farmers and food processors; sustainable regional development; conservation of traditional production methods and cultural heritage; and the accumulation of social capital. However, in developing countries, highly asymmetric power relations among actors across the value chain, weak institutions, and poor governance can impede the realization of benefits from GI in the region. While a GI law has been effective in Tajikistan since 2007; Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan adopted GI laws between 2021 and 2023. The objective of this paper is to assess the potential and the risks of GIs in Central Asia. First, the paper provides an overview of the legal and institutional environment for GIs in Central Asia. Second, the paper critically reviews activities of international organizations and actors in development cooperation to promote GI initiatives in the region. The third section of the paper discusses selected aspects specific to GI initiatives in Central Asia, including the implications of institutional legacies from the Soviet period, colonial borders and unresolved border disputes between independent states, and nomad circular migration that may involve challenges for the regional definition of an origin product. The paper draws on information collected from the academic literature, policy documents, and expert interviews.

Orta Asya'da Co?rafi ??aretlere ?li?kin F?rsatlar ve Zorluklar

Özet

Co?rafi i?aretler, “belirli bir co?rafi kökene sahip olan ve bu kökene ba?l? niteliklere veya üne sahip ürünler üzerinde kullan?lan bir i?aret” olarak tan?mlanmaktad?r. Co?rafi i?aretler, tar?msal ürünlerin ulusal ve uluslararas? ticareti için potansiyel olarak faydal? ticari markalar haline gelmi?tir. Co?rafi i?aretlerin faydalar? aras?nda ?unlar yer almaktad?r: geli?mi? tüketici bilgisi çiftçiler ve g?da i?leyicileri için daha yüksek gelir; sürdürülebilir bölgesel kalk?nma; geleneksel üretim yöntemlerinin ve kültürel miras?n korunmas?; ve sosyal sermaye birikimi. Ancak, geli?mekte olan ülkelerde, de?er zincirindeki aktörler aras?nda oldukça asimetrik güç ili?kileri, zay?f kurumlar ve zay?f yöneti?im, bölgede co?rafi i?aretlerden elde edilen faydalar?n gerçekle?tirilmesini engelleyebilir. Tacikistan'da 2007 y?l?ndan bu yana bir co?rafi i?aret yasas? yürürlükteyken; Kazakistan, K?rg?zistan ve Özbekistan 2021 ve 2023 y?llar? aras?nda co?rafi i?aret yasalar?n? kabul etmi?tir. Bu makalenin amac?, Orta Asya'da co?rafi i?aretlerin potansiyelini ve risklerini de?erlendirmektir. ?lk olarak, makale Orta Asya'da co?rafi i?aretlerle ilgili yasal ve kurumsal ortama genel bir bak?? sunmaktad?r. ?kinci olarak, makale uluslararas? kurulu?lar?n ve kalk?nma i?birli?indeki aktörlerin bölgedeki co?rafi i?aret giri?imlerini destekleme faaliyetlerini ele?tirel bir bak?? aç?s?yla incelemektedir. Çal??man?n üçüncü bölümünde, Sovyet döneminden kalan kurumsal miras?n etkileri, sömürge s?n?rlar? ve ba??ms?z devletler aras?ndaki çözülmemi? s?n?r anla?mazl?klar? ve bir men?e ürünün bölgesel tan?m? için zorluklar içerebilecek göçebe döngüsel göç dahil olmak üzere Orta Asya'daki co?rafi i?aret giri?imlerine özgü seçilmi? hususlar tart???lmaktad?r. Bu çal??ma akademik literatürden, politika belgelerinden ve uzmanlarla yap?lan mülakatlardan toplanan bilgilere dayanmaktad?r.

Dr. Heiko Fritz (Linnaeus University, Växjö, Sweden)
0000-0001-8693-7002  heiko.fritz@lnu.se

Submitted on: 2024-11-12 Accepted on: 2025-01-08

Year:2025 - Volume:4 Issue:1 Pages: 1-6

DOI: https://doi.org/10.36880/J04.1.0137

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APA style citation: Fritz, H. (2025). Opportunities and Challenges of Geographical Indications in Central Asia. Journal of Eurasian Economies, 4(1), 1-6.

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