The Ministry of Trade through the Directorate General of National Export Development (PEN) in collaboration with the Arise+ Indonesia program develops and expands Indonesian Geographical Indication (GI) products. One of them is by making a working visit to Modica, Italy in the context of a study mission on September 21-23 2022. The visit was carried out to explore various ways to develop Modica chocolate as a product of the country's IG. Italy is a country that has the largest Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) in Europe. This working visit was carried out by the Ministry of Trade together with a delegation from the Directorate General of Intellectual Property (DJKI) of the Ministry of Law and Human Rights, Representatives of the Society for the Protection of Geographical Indications of Berau Cocoa, the Secretary General of the Indonesian Cocoa Council, and accompanied by the Rome Trade Attaché and the Indonesian Trade Promotion Center Milan. "From this visit, the Indonesian delegation learned how Italy developed Modica chocolate, as a GI product so that it is able to grow rapidly and grow a food industry that is advanced and proud," said Director of Export Development for Manufacturing Products, Ni Made Ayu Marthini.
The Geographical Indication Protection Society (MPIG/consortium) maintains product tradition and quality, local governments carry out promotions and marketing, while together with the central government establish institutions and mechanisms so that registered GIs are protected. "In addition, the Italian people's pride in this PIG is the key that makes products with GI loved, consumed, and marketed to the maximum, (ultimately) increasing the welfare of their artisans," said Made. As the country with the largest PGI in Europe, Italy has 879 GI products out of a total of 3310 GI products registered in the European Union. This protection not only improves the welfare of farmers and artisans who own GIs, but also maintains product quality, originality, uniqueness, and tradition. The Indonesian Cocoa Council and MPIG Kakao Berau hope that, from the mission visit, a wider partnership can be established between Modica chocolate and MPIG Kakao Berau which is mutually beneficial. Several Modica chocolate artisans are currently using Cocoa from Berau, East Kalimantan, which produces prime chocolate. "We hope that Berau's Cocoa exports will be higher to Italy, and the Indonesian chocolate industry will also expand widely," concluded Made. A number of efforts have been made by the Ministry of Trade as a form of commitment to support the development of GI products in the future, namely by socializing and inviting ministries, institutions, and local governments in increasing awareness of GI products, and being proud of Indonesian GI products.
Source: https://www.validnews.id/ekonomi/kemendag-jajaki-kemitraan-produk-indikasi-geografis-kakao-italia
