Decision No. 253/2003/QĐ-TTg Approving the Project on Building and Developing the National Brand until 2010

DECISION OF THE PRIME MINISTER

Regarding the approval of the project to build and develop the National Brand until 2010

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PRIME MINISTER

Pursuant to the Law on Organization of the Government dated December 25, 2001;

Considering the proposal of the Minister of Trade in Document No. 3859/TM-XTTM dated August 25, 2003, and Document No. 1562/TM-XTTM dated April 15, 2003,

DECISION:

Article 1. Approves the project to build and develop the National Brand until 2010, with the main objectives and contents as follows:

1. Objective: Building and developing the National Brand is a long-term national trade promotion program aimed at establishing and promoting product trademarks (goods and services), trade names, geographical indications, and origin names, bearing the National Brand emblem on domestic and international markets (hereinafter referred to as the Program).

2. Content:

a) The emblem of the National Brand titled in English as "VIETNAM VALUE INSIDE" (Vietnamese Value) shall be affixed to products that have their own trademarks and meet the criteria set forth by the Program.

b) Enterprises of all economic sectors are entitled to participate in the Program and are granted permission by the Ministry of Trade to use the National Brand emblem for products meeting the criteria established by the Program.

c) Enterprises with products bearing the National Brand emblem will receive support in registering product trademarks, trade names, geographical indications, and origin names both domestically and internationally; market research information and export activities advice; assistance and promotion within the framework of key national trade promotion programs annually approved by the Prime Minister; participation in award selection programs organized by the Program, including the annual Export Award of the Prime Minister.

d) The Program is authorized to organize seminars on building and promoting product trademarks, trade names, geographical indications, and origin names; conduct short-term training courses on brands and business capacity enhancement; study and learn from international experiences in organizing, implementing, and maintaining the Program; promote and disseminate the Program's criteria to the business community; register web addresses and design websites introducing the Program; exhibit products bearing the National Brand emblem on the Internet; hire domestic and foreign consultants to carry out certain market research, analysis, National Brand development activities, and advisory support activities of the Program; other contents as decided by the Prime Minister based on the proposal of the Minister of Trade.

e) The Ministry of Trade is the permanent agency responsible for coordinating and implementing the contents of the Program.

Article 2. Within 10 working days from the date of receipt of the dossier as mentioned in Sub-clause b, Clause 1, Article 3 above, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will review and submit to the competent authority for decision (Issues exceeding the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' jurisdiction will be referred to the Prime Minister for consideration and decision).Authorizes the Minister of Trade, after consulting with relevant ministries, sectors, and industry associations, to detail, approve, and implement the contents of the Program's activities as stipulated in Article 1 of this Decision; submit to the Prime Minister for approval the establishment of the National Advisory Council for selecting products bearing the National Brand emblem and awarding prizes under the Program.

Article 3. Funding for the Program's activities as stipulated in Article 1 of this Decision will be supported from the Export Support Fund.

The Ministry of Trade shall work with the Ministry of Finance to decide specifically on the support system, mechanism, and budget estimate for the Program's specific activities.

Article 4. This Decision takes effect fifteen days from the date of publication in the Official Gazette.

Article 5. Ministers, Heads of ministerial-level agencies, Heads of government agencies, Chairmen Within 10 working days from the date of receipt of the dossier as mentioned in Sub-clause b, Clause 1, Article 3 above, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will review and submit to the competent authority for decision (Issues exceeding the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' jurisdiction will be referred to the Prime Minister for consideration and decision).Local People's Committees of provinces and centrally-administered cities are responsible for implementing this Decision./.