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OIC hails WIPO development trend

OIC hails WIPO development trend

Underlining its commitment to development, the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) held a ‘retreat’ for Geneva-based representatives of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) on 5 September, which took an in-depth look at how IP issues impact on OIC member nations. At the event, WIPO was roundly praised by the OIC for its long-standing commitment to assisting the growth of developing economies.

A broad range of topics were discussed, such as the overall development agenda process; public policy issues relating to IP regimes, copyright and the digital divide; the creative industries; agriculture and plant varieties protection; traditional cultural expressions; traditional knowledge and genetic resources; SMEs; fostering development through innovation; and the opportunities and challenges of enforcement of intellectual property rights.

Speaking for the OIC, its chairman, Pakistan permanent representative, Ambassador Masood Khan, said: ‘As OIC economies transition to higher levels of development, they need to raise awareness about intellectual property rights and how these rights impinge on trade, industry and investment. In this context, [this] initiative is most timely.

‘Over the past few years a number of important initiatives have been taken in WIPO. Today, WIPO is more transparent, efficient, development-oriented and responsive to the needs of developing countries,’ Khan pointed out. ‘These initiatives will have deep and long term impact on the capacity of the developing countries to use IP for furthering their socio-economic objectives. The OIC needs to assimilate and integrate these trends in their economies.’

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