Minister for Industries Dilip Barua has said the Geographical Indication (GI) Act 2011 will be passed in the Jatiya Sangsad (JS) within the earliest possible time. The minister said this in a consultation programme on “Geographical Indications Act 2011” at the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce & Industry (DCCI) on 22 March, 2012, Wednesday.
“GI act is a very vital need for protecting local products’ right in the international arena and to enhance their commercial value across the globe,” Barua said.
He added, “To protect the local products’ right the ministry would take initiative to pass the act as soon as possible for the greater interest of local products.”
President of DCCI Asif Ibrahim, Registrar of Department of Patents, Designs and Trademarks, Ministry of Industries, BM Kamal, Sharifa Khan of WTO Cell, Ministry of Commerce, Senior Vice President of DCCI Haider Ahmed Khan and Barrister A B M Hamidul Mishbah, Chief Executive, Bangladesh Intellectual Property Forum were present at the program, among others.
Asif Ibrahim hailed the government for taking the initiative to enact a GI Act. He said: “It is a great pleasure that a draft is already on the table under the supervision of the Ministry of Industries.”
“The enactment of the GI Act would help the country establish its right on such items in the international market,” Ibrahim said further.