Thailand’s Department of Intellectual Property (DIP), under the Ministry of Commerce, has officially registered Wiang Kaen Pomelo from Chiang Rai Province as a Geographical Indication (GI), marking a significant step in protecting the quality, reputation, and distinctive local identity of one of the area’s key agricultural products. The registration is expected to enhance market value, build consumer confidence, and support sustainable income generation for farmers and local communities.
Collectively, GI products in the province generate more than 400 million baht in economic value per year, reflecting the role of GI protection in strengthening grassroots economies while preserving local production knowledge.
The GI registration not only safeguards the name Wiang Kaen Pomelo from market imitation, but also establishes a standardized quality control and traceability system. This allows consumers to clearly identify the product’s origin and authenticity, while enabling farmers to access modern distribution channels and expand into export markets more effectively.
According to DIP Director-General Mrs. Oramon Sapthaweetham (นางอรมน ทรัพยท์วีธรรม), the promotion and protection of GI products is a keypolicy instrument under the Ministry of Commerce’s Quick Big Win framework. GI products serve as value multipliers for Thailand’s distinctive agricultural goods, enhancing competitiveness and ensuring sustainable growth in both domestic and international markets.
Wiang Kaen Pomelo is cultivated in Wiang Kaen District across four sub-districts—Muang Yai(ม่วงยาย), Lai Ngao(หล่ายงาว), Por(ปอ), and ThaKham(ท่าข้าม)—an area characterized by basin-like geography surrounded by mountains and nourished by the Ngao River (แม่น้ำงาว). The fertile alluvial soil, good drainage, balanced soil acidity, and favorable climate contribute to the pomelo’s distinctive qualities, including firm flesh, high juiciness, and a unique flavor profile.
The product has gained recognition among consumers both in Thailand and abroad, with China emerging as a key export market.
The Department of Intellectual Property expects that the GI registration of Wiang Kaen pomelo will support the long-term development of Chiang Rai’s agricultural products, including the strengthening of local branding, linkage with agrotourism, and the creation of stable income for farmers, in line with the country’s goals of grassroots economic development and sustainable growth.
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