VIENTIANE, March 14 (Xinhua) -- All commodities produced in Laos will have a trademark under the Madrid Protocol, to create economic opportunities and help raise the standard of trade in the country, local media reported on Wednesday.

The Madrid system, officially the Madrid system for the international registration of marks, is the primary international system for facilitating the registration of trademarks in multiple jurisdictions around the world.

Laos will be the fifth ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) country to use this system. Director General of the Department of Intellectual Property under the Lao Ministry of Science and Technology, Khanlasy Keobounphanh, on Tuesday addressed the topic at a workshop on international trademark registration under the Madrid Protocol, local state-run daily Vientiane Times reported on Wednesday.

The Madrid Protocol system provides for the international registration of trademarks by way of one application that can cover more than one country. This provides a mechanism for obtaining trademark protection in many countries around the world, which is more effective than seeking protection separately in each individual country.

"The main objectives of the workshop were to increase awareness of the need for trademark registration and protection and related trademarks," Khanlasy said.