Opportunities and Challenges of Geographical Indications in Central Asia

Geographical indications (GIs) are defined as “a sign used on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation that are due to that origin”. GIs have become potentially beneficial trademarks for domestic and international trade in agricultural products. Among the benefits of GIs are improved consumer information; higher incomes for farmers and food processors; sustainable regional development; conservation of traditional production methods and cultural heritage; and the accumulation of social capital. However, in developing countries, highly asymmetric power relations among actors across the value chain, weak institutions, and poor governance can impede the realization of benefits from GI in the region. While a GI law has been effective in Tajikistan since 2007; Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan adopted GI laws between 2021 and 2023. The objective of this paper is to assess the potential and the risks of GIs in Central Asia. First, the paper provides an overview of the legal and institutional environment for GIs in Central Asia. Second, the paper critically reviews activities of international organizations and actors in development cooperation to promote GI initiatives in the region. The third section of the paper discusses selected aspects specific to GI initiatives in Central Asia, including the implications of institutional legacies from the Soviet period, colonial borders and unresolved border disputes between independent states, and nomad circular migration that may involve challenges for the regional definition of an origin product. The paper draws on information collected from the academic literature, policy documents, and expert interviews.