Roundtable on development of national IP strategy held

Islamabad
A roundtable conference on the ‘Development of a National Intellectual Property (IP) Strategy,’ organised by the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) in cooperation with Intellectual Property Organisation of Pakistan (IPO-Pakistan) which was assisted by the European Union (EU), commenced here on Thursday.
Director General of IPO-Pakistan Aamir Hasan, Bernard Francois, representative of EU, Bruno Representative of UNIDO, Dr. Henning, Cambridge University, UK, Meesaq Arif Director IPO, Asfand Ali, Deputy Director IPO, Nadia Zubair Shah Deputy Director Law IPO-Pakistan, Kashif Latif Malik and Ghulam Mujtaba, Assistant Directors IPO, Inayat Syed WIPO, Consultant Trade Related Technical Assistance Programme TRTA-II, eminent IP experts, heads and representatives of public and private sectors, IP professionals, and stakeholders from academia and research institutions participated in the deliberations and exchange views about the current scenario, policy formulations and requirements from the perceptions of all concerns.
Addressing the inaugural ceremony IPO-Pakistan Chairman Shahid Rashid said that an IP strategy is important because it strengthen a country’s ability to generate economically valuable IP assets, therefore, the aim of an IP strategy is to provide a plan whereby all national stakeholders can work together to create own and exploit research results, innovations, new technologies and works of creativity. He also mentioned TRTA-II Programme of EU being implemented to strengthen and modernise IPR system in Pakistan to facilitate and enhance investment and trade in IP protected goods and services.
Shahid Rashid said that Intellectual Property is one of the major components for economic development of a nation. The modern era progress and prosperity of business and market mostly depends upon tangible assets and concept of IP based nation is gaining roots sharply. He said well-functioning a balanced IP system is vital to promoting innovation and creativity which are the main drivers of economic development of knowledge based economies.
The chairman of IPO-Pakistan further said that an IP strategy is important because it strengthens a country’s ability to generate economically valuable IP assets, therefore, the aim of an IP strategy is to provide a plan whereby all national stakeholders can work together to create own and exploit research results, innovations, new technologies and works of creativity.
Director General of IPO Engineer Aamir Hasan also highlighted the significant importance of National Intellectual Property IP Strategy and briefed the participants about the consultation process and related activities being carried out to formulate a comprehensive draft of proposed National IP Strategy of Pakistan. He said that roundtable has been organized to get the intellectual input of stakeholders and their recommendations would be incorporated in the draft of IP Strategy.
Mansur Raza, deputy director (ASPAC) WIPO said that IP polices and strategies enables a country to use its IP system in an effective and optimal manner while ensuring that it contributes to overall national development policies and goals. He further revealed that it provides a clear picture of where a country wants to go and how it will get there by using the IP system.
Mansur Raza was of the view that IP Strategy provides an effective framework of cooperation between the country concerned and agencies providing technical assistance in areas related to IP. The participants discussed related issues in detailed and projected their view point on important segments of IP Strategy. Mujeeb Khan, Ms. Shandana Khan, Trade Policy Consultants and other experts deliberated on the subject.