Black Sea Basin Geographical Indications Network

Programme 2014 - 2020 Black Sea Basin ENI CBC

Date of latest update: 2025-06-17

Description

Description (EN):

BS GIN Network will create a synergy among culturally, naturally and historically unique regions of Galati, Batumi and Trabzon to exploit their potential of geographical indications by forming a network and engage in local capacities building and promotional activities for their stakeholders. A geographical indication (GI) is a sign used on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation that are due to that origin. The main motivation behind BS GIN project is the fact that geographically indicated products are differentiated from other similar products with their unique qualities. Consequently, with provision of right protection mechanisms and marketing efforts, a niche market for GI products would be created. Thus, by using Geographical Indications a strong added value would be created for unique products which in medium and long terms provide a substantial contribution to economic development and welfare of people/regions engaged in production and marketing of such GI products. A study of the European Commission states that EU Geographical Indications worth around € 54 billion in worldwide markets. Study further indicates that the value premium rate of products bearing a GI compared to non-GI products is approximately 2.23, which means that products with GI are being sold around 2.2 times higher than non-GI products. Black Sea basin with its unique geographical, nature and cultural background has an enormous potential in terms of GI products. However, the current level of utilization of GI and its associated mechanisms such as Protected Designation of Origin (PDI) and Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) are very limited around Black Sea basin. In terms of the BS GIN project partners, from Turkey there are only 17 PDO/PGI denominations, there are 10 denominations from Romania and non from Georgia. Main reasons of failure to benefit from GI scheme are as follows:Lack of knowledge and awaraness of geographical indications concept and international legal framework for protection Lack of knowledge of the supply & value chainsLack of knowledge and capacities to identify distinctive characteristics of products, protect and manage geographical indicationsDifficulty in bringing together and unifying stakeholders and thus, creating GI networksLack of GI denominations + strategies for GI prodcuts' marketing, branding and promotion Therefore, BS GIN project will work on : Increasing the awareness and knowledge of GI associated concepts and international mechanismsBuilding capacities of BS GIN stakeholders related to the protection, management and promotion of geographical indicationsTo create Black Sea GI Network of producers, SMEs, institutions, traders etc. to use and benefit from GI schemes and promote their their locally unique and peculiar Black Sea products under GI schemes.

Achievements (EN):

The partners of the project Black Sea Basin Geographical Indications Network - BS GIN (BSB1191) stressed the Black Sea basin potential in terms of GI products. A geographical indication (GI) is a sign used on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation that are due to that origin. The Black Sea basin with its unique geographical, natural and cultural background has great potential in terms of GI products. However, the current level of utilisation of GI and its associated mechanisms such as Protected Designation of Origin (PDI) and Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) are very limited around the Black Sea basin. Among increasing the awareness and knowledge of GI-associated concepts and international mechanisms, building capacities of the stakeholders related to the protection, management and promotion of geographical indications and creating a network of producers, SMEs, institutions, and traders to use and benefit from GI schemes and promote their locally unique and peculiar products under GI schemes, the partners conducted online campaigns promoting GI products and/or potential GI products and/or complementary tourism/social/economic values of regions. In total, 12 Romanian products, 72 Georgian products, and 59 Turkish products—including wines and spirits, cheese and dairy products, agro-products, and mineral waters—were promoted. The project partners appreciate that Geographical Indication (GI) products play a significant role in various aspects of economics, culture, and society and are committed to supporting the applicants for GI recognition. Geographical indication products are not only about protecting intellectual property rights but also about promoting sustainable development, cultural diversity, and the well-being of communities tied to the production of these unique and region-specific goods.

Website: http://blacksea-cbc.net/

Expected Results (EN): R 1.2 Strength of cross-border links for trade and modernisation in the agricultural and connected sectors

Expected Outputs (EN):

Project's main results will focus on increasing the strength of local capacities of producers, collective unions/associations/traders/chambers and SMEs from agriculture and connected sectors with potential to utilize Geographical Indications and thus, increase the added value of their products and revenues generated from their production and national and international trade. Another focus of BS GIN project will be on encouraging and providing essential platforms for producers, enterprises and their collective entities to unite their power under Geographical Indications. BS GIN project will achieve these main aims under following actions and results. - Under training programmes in 3 different partners in total, capacities of 400 persons from producers, traders, SMEs, collective entities related, agriculture, trade and agro-industrial business will be increased regarding Geographical Indications, national and legal framework regarding Geographical indications, (Lisbon System, WTO TRIPS regulation etc.). - Knowledge/experience of 42 stakeholders will be increased via two international study visits to France and Italy, which are the top 2 leading countries in EU on GI products and their trade. - Under 3 international summits in 3 partner regions, at least 600 people/entities from agriculture and business sectors will be more aware of the opportunities embedded in Geographical Indications with national and international protection mechanisms and utilization of international organizations such as WIPA and ECTA). - Existing and potential Black Sea Basin GI products will be promoted to reach at least 2 millions of people via social media promotion campaigns. - Institutional capacities of at least 50 umbrella business organizations will be empowered regarding knowledge of GI, application processes to get international GI labels, national and international protection mechanisms + sui generis system of protection in EU level for GI products.

Thematic information

Innovation capacity and awareness-raising Clustering and economic cooperation

Thematic Objective: Business and SME development

Partners (3)

Lead Partner: Doğu Karadeniz Kalkınma Ajansı

Address: Gazipaşa Mahallesi Nemlioğlu Sokak Taksim Yokuşu 3, 61030 trabzon, Turkey

Legal status: public

Website: http://www.doka.org.tr

Total budget: EUR 83 189.83

International Business Development and Investment Promotion Center

Name: International Business Development and Investment Promotion Center

Address: Shavsehti Street 19, 6000 Batumi, Georgia

Legal status: private

Website: http://www.ibdipc.org

Total budget: EUR 57 903.99

Galati Tehnopol Association

Name: Galati Tehnopol Association

Address: Portului 23, 800025 Galati, Romania

Legal status: private

Website: http://www.tehnopol-gl.ro

Total budget: EUR 29 681.27

Partners map

Partners and Projects info

International Business Development and Investment Promotion Center

Black Sea Basin Geographical Indications Network

Partners and Projects info

Galati Tehnopol Association

Black Sea Basin Geographical Indications Network

Partners and Projects info

Eastern Black Sea Development Agency

Black Sea Basin Geographical Indications Network

Lead partner

Project partner

Summary

Project name (EN): Black Sea Basin Geographical Indications Network

Project acronym: BS GIN

Project start date: 2020-08-03

Project end date: 2022-11-02

Project status: closed

Total budget/expenditure: EUR 170 775.09

Total EU funding (amount): EUR 157 113.07

Co-financing sources:

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

Financing programme

2014 - 2020 Black Sea Basin ENI CBC

Latest month of project-partner-call data publication

2025-12

No. of projects in keep.eu / Total no. of projects (% of projects in keep.eu)

57 / 57 (100%)

No. of project partnerships in keep.eu / Total no. of project partnerships (% of project partnerships in keep.eu)

290 / 290 (100%)

Notes on the data

Information provided by the Programme on 2025-03-10 and on 2025-12-29. Achievements were retrieved by Interact from the Programme website (http://blacksea-cbc.net/), or a website directly linked from it, on 2024-02-01, except for projects with acronyms AGREEN, BeECO, BRIDGES, BSB ECO MONITORING, BSB Smart Farming, CRoCuS, EXCELTOUR, LeNetEco 2, LOC-FOOD, SILC, THC (in these cases, the information was provided by the Programme).

The financial data featured in keep.eu for this programme, it's projects and its partners is not exact and should be taken as a reference only.

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Black Sea Basin Geographical Indications Network

Description

Thematic information

Partners (3)

Partners map

Summary

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

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