Asunción, 6 May 2024 - The National Directorate of Intellectual Property (DINAPI) and the European Union (EU) cooperation project AL-INVEST Verde Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) launched today the AL-INVmentor initiative in Paraguay.
The AL-INVmentor Paraguay mentoring programme seeks to promote knowledge of intellectual property instruments through specialised mentoring with technicians from DINAPI and AL-INVEST Verde DPI to guarantee local producers the opportunity to access international markets and further sustainable local economic growth.
The mentoring programme will be aimed at supporting a productive initiative containing agri-food geographical indications (GIs) recognised in national legislation, with virtual training workshops on topics such as: associativity, objectives and strategic goals of origin product chains, as well as identification and training in control mechanisms, including traceability requirements.
In addition, they will receive sustainability training with priority selection according to the local context, including environmental requirements for accessing international markets (such as requirements related to the European Union (EU) strategy to achieve climate neutrality), as well as training in marketing techniques for GIs.
"Our common goal is for Paraguayan geographical indications and other intellectual property tools to be effective instruments of collective value creation for the local communities of our country," said Claudia Lorena Franco Quevedo, National Director of DINAPI.
Mariano Riccheri Ponferrada, Leader of the AL-INVEST Verde IPR cooperation project, highlighted that this new initiative is consistent with the EU's objective of strengthening the use of intellectual property (IP) as a key element in economic and sustainable development in MERCOSUR countries. "Geographical indications and other IPRs are a key intellectual property instrument, which can contribute to the generation and capture of value for local communities in Paraguay," Riccheri said.
"What we are looking for is to share specialised knowledge with international consultants so that the selected local producers can articulate their collective strategies in different areas with their intellectual property rights".
Paraguayan producers who meet the characteristics for the identification of GI products will receive the corresponding invitations to participate in the programme. The mentoring will begin in July 2024, and will culminate in January 2025, and will be both face-to-face and virtual.
More information about AL-INVmentor Paraguay
Registration form AL-INVmentor Paraguay
In its first edition, the initiative AL-INVmentor will support six producer groups from MERCOSUR countries, and Paraguay will have one selected representative. Technical criteria associated with the characteristics of the product and its relation to the origin, the cohesion of its value chain, its market potential and its capacity to generate economic benefits in its territories of origin, will be taken into account, in order to choose the local product.
In addition, it will support those products interested in exporting to the European Union with improvement plans for compliance with the recent EU directives associated with the so-called "European Green Pact "1.
About AL-INVEST Verde
AL-INVEST Verde is a European Union (EU) programme whose main objective is to promote sustainable growth and job creation in Latin America by supporting the transition to a low-carbon, resource-efficient and more circular economy. Through Component 3: AL-INVEST Verde DPIled by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), the programme seeks to achieve greater use and effectiveness of intellectual property rights in Latin America, particularly in the MERCOSUR countries and Chile, to boost opportunities for research cooperation and stimulate competitiveness and sustainable innovation.
