23.01.2025 Aydın Memecik Zeytinyağı Branding and Commercialisation Project was introduced at the Geographical Indication Certificate Presentation Ceremony

An event organized in collaboration between the Aydın Commodity Exchange and the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office aimed to raise awareness about the branding and commercialization of geographically indicated products. The program included informative sessions and a Geographical Indication Certificate Presentation Ceremony for registered products.

The ceremony was attended by Aydın MP Ömer Özmen, Aydın Adnan Menderes University Rector Prof. Dr. Bülent Kent, Turkish Patent and Trademark Office President Prof. Dr. Zeki Durak, and other officials, alongside Aydın Commodity Exchange representatives and businesses using geographical indications.

As part of the event, the "Geographical Indications Branding and Commercialization Project Roadmap – Phase 1 Meeting" and an Industrial Property Training Seminar were held. Hakan Kızıltepe, Head of the Geographical Indications Department at the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office, presented a session on the branding and commercialization of Aydın Memecik Zeytinyağı. Mr. Kızıltepe detailed a 2024 project initiated in cooperation with the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), focusing on four selected products, including Aydın Memecik Zeytinyağı. Mr. Kızıltepe outlined the project's roadmap, emphasizing proper registration, quality standards, and effective marketing strategies for successful commercialization.

Aydın Commodity Exchange Secretary General Neslihan Duymaz informed participants about the branding and commercialization steps for "Aydın Memecik Zeytinyağı," a geographically indicated product registered by the Aydın Commodity Exchange. Miss Duymaz explained that a comprehensive strategy was developed in collaboration with the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in 2024, aiming to enhance national and international recognition of the product.

Duymaz highlighted planned initiatives to bring together producers, consumers, and stakeholders to raise awareness of geographical indications. She also emphasized the importance of collaborations and joint projects to strengthen branding efforts.

Additionally, Mete Kıvaç Ünaltekin, Branch Manager at the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office’s Innovation Department, provided detailed insights into the trademark registration process and post-registration procedures. Mr. Unaltekin explained key steps such as application, examination, and approval, as well as essential post-registration actions, including trademark renewal, usage monitoring, and rights protection.

In the second session, Aydın Commodity Exchange Chairman Fevzi Çondur shared the organization's efforts in branding and commercializing geographically indicated products. He emphasized their commitment to ensuring these products achieve their deserved position in national and international markets. Mr. Çondur highlighted that Aydın holds the highest number of geographical indications in Turkey recognized by the European Union, while the Aydın Commodity Exchange ranks first in obtaining geographical indication registrations for products with designation of origin.

Discussing the 2024 project initiated with the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Çondur stated that four products, including Aydın Memecik Zeytinyağı, were selected. Aydın Memecik Zeytinyağı was chosen as the pilot product for branding and commercialization efforts. The project aims to bring together producers, consumers, and stakeholders to raise awareness, strengthen branding, and enhance the market presence of geographically indicated products both nationally and internationally.

Turkish Patent and Trademark Office President Prof. Dr. M. Zeki Durak emphasized the importance of initiatives that reflect Aydın’s cultural heritage and economic potential, highlighting their role in supporting local development.

Turkish Patent and Trademark Office President Prof. Dr. M. Zeki Durak emphasized their efforts in raising awareness of intellectual property rights, including patents, utility models, trademarks, designs, and geographical indications. He highlighted that their work extends beyond registration to ensuring the commercialization of these innovations. Durak also stressed the importance of protecting and promoting geographical indications, which represent not only economic value but also the history, traditions, and nature of their regions, making them key elements of local development.

Durak noted that intellectual property applications in Aydın have increased in recent years, with the number of registered geographical indications reaching 32, and four products obtaining EU registration. He shared Aydın’s national rankings in intellectual property applications: 22nd in patents, 19th in trademarks, and 27th in designs, and commended the Aydın Commodity Exchange for its efforts in geographical indications.

Speaking on the branding and commercialization project in collaboration with WIPO, Durak explained that the initiative aims to enhance the market value of EU-registered geographical indication products. In the project's first phase, efforts focused on Aydın Memecik Zeytinyağı and Edremit Zeytinyağı. He emphasized the benefits of this process, including training for producers and cooperatives, boosting commercialization, and increasing consumer awareness in both local and European markets.

Following the speeches, Aydın MP Ömer Özmen and Prof. Dr. Zeki Durak presented the geographical indication certificate for Aydın Artichoke to Aydın Commodity Exchange Chairman Fevzi Çondur, and the certificate for Söke Peksimet to Söke History Research and Cultural Heritage Protection Association President İsmail Caner Genç. The event concluded with a showcase of Aydın’s geographically indicated products, where participants took photos and explored the exhibited items.

Following the program at the Aydın Commodity Exchange, Turkish Patent and Trademark Office President Prof. Dr. Zeki Durak, Aydın Commodity Exchange Chairman Fevzi Çondur, and their delegation visited companies that utilize geographically indicated products. During the visits, they gathered information about these products, evaluated branding and commercialization processes, and discussed ways to strengthen collaboration. These visits provided significant opportunities to expand the market reach of Aydın’s geographically indicated products and contribute to sustainable economic development.