― 2 Nisan 2026
Roadmaps for branding and commercialization have been developed to position Edremit Zeytinyağı (Olive Oil) and Aydın Memecik Zeytinyağı (Olive Oil) on a global scale.
The first phase of the “Development of Branding and Commercialization Strategies for Geographical Indications” project—carried out under the auspices of the Ministry of Industry and Technology, in cooperation with the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office (TÜRKPATENT) and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)—has been completed. The project aims to strengthen the positioning of Türkiye’s geographically indicated products in both national and international markets.
Within the scope of the project, Edremit Zeytinyağı (Olive Oil) and Aydın Memecik Zeytinyağı (Olive Oil)—both registered geographical indications in the European Union—were selected as pilot products. Accordingly, comprehensive efforts were undertaken to enhance their branding and commercialization processes.
As part of the project, training programs were organized for producers, and capacity-building activities were carried out in areas such as branding, digital visibility, export readiness, and geographical indication protection. Based on needs analyses, tailored branding and commercialization roadmaps were prepared for both products.
Closing Events Held
The closing events of the project were held on March 31, 2026, hosted by the Edremit Chamber of Commerce, and on April 1, 2026, hosted by the Aydın Commodity Exchange.
The events were attended by the President of TÜRKPATENT Prof. Dr. M. Zeki DURAK, Aydın Governor Yakup CANBOLAT, WIPO TDC Director Prof. Dr. Habip ASAN, Aydın Commodity Exchange Chairman Fevzi ÇONDUR, Aydın Chamber of Commerce Chairman Hakan ÜLKEN, Edremit Chamber of Commerce Chairman Ahmet ÇETİN, along with local officials and producers.
During the events, project outcomes were shared, participants were informed, and certificates were presented.
“We Aim for Our Geographically Indicated Products to Reach Their True Value”
Speaking at the closing events, TÜRKPATENT President Prof. Dr. M. Zeki DURAK emphasized the importance of increasing the added value of geographically indicated products, stating:
“Our goal is to ensure that our geographically indicated products attain the value they deserve both domestically and in international markets.”
DURAK noted that the number of Türkiye’s geographical indications registered in the European Union has reached 46, while 8 more have reached the final stage of registration and have been announced.
Evaluating the project activities, DURAK said:
“Under the leadership of our Minister of Industry and Technology, Mr. Mehmet Fatih KACIR, we implemented training programs, needs analyses, and capacity-building activities for our producers. We have established a holistic model extending from production to the market. We would like to thank all stakeholders who contributed to the project and the producers who sustain this value with their efforts.”
DURAK also stated that TÜRKPATENT will continue its efforts to increase the added value of geographically indicated products, support producers, and strengthen the representation of local values in global markets. He added that, in the next phases of the project, similar initiatives are planned for Malatya Kayısısı (Apricots) and Giresun Tombul Fındığı (Hazelnuts).
