Geographical Indicators as Tools of Economic Development

A geographical indication (GI) defines a product as being from a certain place, when the product’s quality, reputation, or other attributes are largely related to its location. GI is a collective property, not a private one. It can be registered by an organisation representing the interests of a group of people in practically all nations. GIs helps in achieving and boosting rural development, environmental sustainability, consumer awareness and many other aspects. GIs are especially beneficial to agricultural product producers since they allow them to differentiate their products from common commodity items such as rice, coffee and tea, allowing them to get market access. A sturdy GI ecosystem has numerous advantages. It will automatically address the three contentious issues faced by India—poor pay for talent, low female labour force participation and urban migration. On the evolution side, some GIs have resulted in improved and superior uniqueness of rural employment.