“National producers are a tool that contributes to the country’s growth and development,” said the Vice Minister for Monitoring and Control of Trade and Distribution, Hendrick Perdomo, during the 2nd International Congress of Tourism 360° held in the context of the International Tourism Fair of Venezuela (FITVen) 2024, held in San Cristóbal, Táchira state.
The statement was made as part of the presentation «Protected Geographical Indications (PGI): an engine for the development of sustainable tourism and cultural appreciation», given by the general director of the Autonomous Service of Intellectual Property (SAPI).
He also pointed out that Intellectual Property (IP) is found in everyday life: “When we read a copyrighted book, when we buy clothes, we are choosing a brand. That is why IP is an opportunity for developing countries. With a tourism vision, it is a tool to promote innovation, attract investments, develop our industries and protect our rich cultural heritage.”
He also reported that Venezuela is the country with the largest cocoa PGI in the world: “We have four cocoa PGIs, that speaks of our quality, all with different and unique characteristics.” In this sense, Perdomo extended the invitation to all Venezuelans to support national producers because in this way “we can create a sufficiently attractive tourist product, and the PGI can be the epicenter of this economic growth.”
The presentation was made during the 2nd International Congress of Tourism 360°, to promote this productive sector through the PGIs, which currently contribute to the transformation of the world economy.