PHNOM PENH, July 19, 2024 — The Koh Kong mud crab is on the verge of being registered as a geographical indication (GI) product in Cambodia, signaling a significant step in the country's efforts to protect and promote its indigenous products on a global scale.

This initiative, part of the Post COVID program, has seen the Ministry of Commerce’s Department of Intellectual Property collaborate with experts from the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) to conduct three extensive research studies on the crab species renowned for its unique flavor and texture.

During a recent meeting on the sidelines of the 65th WIPO General Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland, which ran from July 9 to 17, Ouk Prachea, Secretary of State for the Ministry of Commerce, discussed further collaborations with WIPO Deputy Director General Wang Binying. Prachea urged WIPO to not only continue supporting the GI registration process for the Koh Kong mud crab but also to assist in establishing collective and certification marks for Cambodian milled rice products.

Prachea also expressed gratitude towards WIPO for its ongoing technical assistance in developing Cambodia’s legal framework and intellectual property system, including the implementation of the Industrial Property Administration System (IPAS) in the country.

Responding to Cambodia’s requests, Wang Binying affirmed WIPO's commitment to dispatching specialists to work alongside the Ministry of Commerce’s Department of Intellectual Property to advance these initiatives.

Cambodia’s portfolio of registered GI products includes Kampot pepper, Kampong Speu palm sugar, Mondulkiri wild honey, Koh Trong pomelo, Kampot/Kep salt and salt flower, Takeo lobster, and Kampot/Kep fish sauce—each cherished for their distinct qualities linked to their specific local environments.