Cooperation and Development Section ■ Delegation of the European Commission to China and Mongolia
Mongolia, Education and Good Governance
ASIA INVEST PROGRAMME - MONGOLIA
SUPPORT TO MONGOLIA'S AGRICULTURE ASSOCIATIONS IN
THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATIONS (GIs)
Asia Invest is a European Union initiative that aims to promote and support business co-operation between European Union and Asia. It was launched in 1998 and it continues to support the exchange of experience, networking and matchmaking among European and Asian business organisations to promote the great integration of European and Asian companies and the transfer of know-how and technology between the two regions. Asia Invest programme supports the internationalisation of European and Asian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by facilitating direct business cooperation. Beneficiaries that are eligible applicants for grants under the programme will primarily be non-profit business intermediaries promoting trade and investment between the EU and Asia.
Project Overall Objectives
The agro-food sector is of major importance in Mongolia, but it faces significant quality issues. The agriculture and food sector constitutes one third of Mongolia’s total GDP according to the last EU Mongolia Country Strategy Paper (2002-2006) and involves over 1700 small and medium enterprises. The predominant companies produce products such as meat, milk and cheese, cashmere and camel wool, leather, sweets, beverages, spirits and beer. The concept of Geographical Indicators and benefits are not well known by Mongolian business intermediary organisations and until now the Mongolia Meat Association has been the only organisation to enter the process of registering a GI.
The overall objective of this project therefore is to support the development of Geographical Indications (GI) in Mongolia for agriculture products that has quality, reputation or other characteristics essentially attributable to their geographic origin.
Specific Objectives
The specific objective is to strengthen the capacity of Mongolia Business intermediary associations to develop successful Geographical Indications. This project intends to improve the quality of Mongolian agriculture products through the introduction of European Best Practices along the agro-food chain to the agriculture associations and chambers, and to develop networking between European and Mongolian intermediary associations involved in GI development in order to facilitate exchange and cooperation opportunities. This project also supports sustainable economic, social and environmental development of Mongolian rural areas.
Estimated Project Results
The project estimates the following results;
Ø Improvement of the technical and management capacities for MNCCI and Mongolian agriculture and processing associations, as well as Mongolian Authorities involved in GI development;
Ø Enhanced knowledge about Mongolia's potential and needs as well as networking with relevant associations and the private sector for European GI and agriculture organisations.
Ø Increased awareness of agro-food quality issues and of the potential of traditional and typical Mongolian agro-food products for export within the Mongolia media organisation.
Main Project Activities
The main activities to be implemented include;
Ø Needs assessment of Mongolia business intermediary organisations to support sustainable development of high quality GI products;
Ø Establishing activities for EU-Mongolia GI networking opportunities;
Ø Workshops on Optimised Best Practices for local business intermediary organisations to support the development of GI agriculture products in Mongolia;
Ø Best Practice European Study Tour on support of local associations to GI sustainable development;
Ø EU-Mongolia GI organisations online exchange;
Ø Best Practice Manual for the sustainable development of GI's.
Current Activity Status (November 2008)
The project began with a needs assessment of the Mongolian producers, producer organisations and members of national government bodies. A study tour was then made to Europe where the participants visited GI producers and institutions in Spain and France. The project also conducted a workshop on EU best practise for the development of GIs in Mongolia, and produced a webpage for the project with updates on activities. The project was completed in June 2008. More information is available on the project website; www.gi-mongolia.com
Project Contact Details
Francesca Ciccomartino
Updated time of fiche: 6th November 2008
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