The National Office of Intellectual Property of Viet Nam has issued a registration certificate for Geographical Indication for Ben Tre Province’s green Xiem coconut, the province Department of Science and Technology announced on March 1.

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

The geographical area in this case includes Chau Thanh, Cho Lach, Giong Trom, Mo Cay Nam, Mo Cay Bac, Thanh Phu, Ba Tri, and Binh Dai districts and Ben Tre City.

According to the provincial Department of Industry and Trade, the GI registration is expected to boost the value of the green Xiem 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.

Ben 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. — VNS