Geographical Indications Advisory

Africa International Trade & Commerce Research (AITCR) is the leading organization that promotes and advocates the implementation of the concept of Geographical Indications (GIs) in Nigeria and across Africa as a veritable tool for rural development, cultural preservation, and the protection of intellectual property rights of traditional goods that derives their unique characteristics, reputation, name and quality attributable to their geographical origin. Geographical indications will protect Africa transitional products against misappropriation, misuse, counterfeiting or imitation if it is adequately registered by the collective right owners that meet the defined specification standard. and GIs also create a sense of confidence among consumers.
AITCR has extensive expertise in GIs and works with the public sector, private sector, development partners and NGOs, and research institutions on GIs-related projects. Some of the past projects include Capacity building and training, workshops on GIs, conferences on GIs, research and analysis, product mapping, evaluation, establishing and maintaining GIs database, GIs legal frameworks, managing group support, GIs policy advisory and many other related projects. AITCR’s strong and proven track record on Geographical Indications, an aspect of Intellectual Property Rights, is essentially available to support domestic, regional, continental and global GIs programmes and activities.