The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) has launched a logo design contest for Vietnamese rice trademark, aimed at promoting the reputation of the country’s rice.

Entries for the contest can be submitted from April 26 to June 26. The winner will be announced between September and October this year.According to MARD Deputy Minister Tran Thanh Nam, the logo must reflect the culture, history and tradition of Viet Nam’s rice production, while showing the quality and commitment of the country to rice products with the national trademark. The contest is part of activities to realise the project to develop Viet Nam’s rice brand to 2020 with a vision to 2030, which was approved by the Prime Minister two years ago.

MARD would choose several enterprises to use the logo and register intellectual property protection of the Vietnamese rice trademark, Nam said. He underscored that "the building of Vietnamese rice trademark is significant in defining the value and image of Vietnamese rice products; enhancing awareness of domestic and foreign producers, importers, distributors and consumers on Vietnamese rice, thus expanding the market; and increasing added value and competitiveness of Vietnamese rice". The first prize is worth VND100 million (US$4,400), while four consolidation prizes are VND15 million ($660) each. Details of the contest are available on MARD’s website www.mard.gov.vn and the Department of Agricultural Products Processing and Development’s website www.chebien.gov.vn. – VNS