Bến Tres green Xiêm coconut gets certificate of Geographical Indication

Bến Tre Province’s Xiêm Xanh coconut has received a registration certificate for Geographical Indication from the National Office of Intellectual Property of Việt Nam. — VNA/VNS Photo Huỳnh Phúc Hậu

BẾN TRE — The National Office of Intellectual Property of Việt Nam has issued a registration certificate for Geographical Indication for Bến Tre Province’s green Xiêm coconut, the province Department of Science and Technology announced on March 1.

The People’s Committee of the Cửu Long (Mekong) Delta province holds the GI rights.

The geographical area in this case includes Châu Thành, Chợ Lách, Giồng Trôm, Mỏ Cày Nam, Mỏ Cày Bắc, Thạnh Phú, Ba Tri, and Bình Đại districts and Bến Tre City.

According to the provincial Department of Industry and Trade, the GI registration is expected to boost the value of the green Xiêm coconut in the domestic market and help expand exports to foreign markets such as the US, Japan and the EU.

Small with a green skin, each coconut has an average of 258ml of water.

Its water is sweeter and also different from others in terms of nutrition and health benefits.

Bến Tre has some 70,000ha under coconut and is the country’s largest producer, growing some 600 million nuts a year.

Of the figure, about 10 per cent are grown for water, which is mainly sold in the domestic market.

In recent years, the province has had many policies and plans to promote the coconut industry.

Coconut is expected to turn into a major economic product for the province.