During an official visit to Ecuador from October 28-30, 2025, WIPO Director General Daren Tang met with senior government officials, private sector leaders, creators and academics to forge new partnerships that harness intellectual property (IP) as a driver for innovation, cultural development and inclusive economic growth. The Director General pledged WIPO's continued support to help Ecuador transition from raw material exports to a knowledge-based economy, enabling greater value addition from the country's rich heritage, biodiversity and natural resources, including roses, shrimp, cocoa and coffee.
During the visit, Mr. Tang joined Ecuador's First Lady Lavinia Valbonesi to launch a groundbreaking IP for Women Artisans project. The initiative, developed with the Ana Foundation, will empower 30 women from Morona Santiago in the Ecuadorian Amazon to protect and commercialize their traditional creations.
Quito engagements:
- Met with Minister of Education, Culture and Sports Alegría Crespo to discuss integrating IP into primary and secondary school curricula. Mr. Tang highlighted IP opportunities in sports, recognizing Ecuador's achievements in cycling, speed walking and wrestling. They also explored university research-to-market innovation pathways.
- Met with Minister for Production, Foreign Trade and Investment, Luis Alberto Jaramillo and confirmed WIPO’s support for using IP to attract foreign investment and enhance export competitiveness. They also discussed strengthening IP enforcement mechanisms.
- Met with Foreign Affairs Minister Gabriela Sommerfeld and signed a letter of intent for an IP training program for diplomats and trade negotiators.
- Engaged with National Assembly members on IP legislation updates, who expressed their commitment to modernizing IP legislation to better support innovation and ensure that local communities, creators and entrepreneurs benefit from the IP system, respecting local heritage and traditions.
- Engaged with National Service of Intellectual Property (SENADI) Director General María Lorena Espinoza, signing a memorandum of understanding on WIPO’s Patent Drafting Training Program and reaffirming WIPO’s support for SENADI’s ongoing digital transformation. Mr. Tang also met beneficiaries of WIPO’s Women Entrepreneurs Program, Inventor Assistance Program, and IP for Migrant Entrepreneurs project.
- In a roundtable with private sector representatives, Mr. Tang shared insights into the global IP landscape and reiterated WIPO’s readiness to build capacity among industry associations and collective management organizations. He highlighted the Café Mujeres initiative led by Café Galletti, which uplifts women coffee growers across the Andes, as an example of empowerment through IP.
- Signed a memorandum of understanding with the Andean Tribunal of Justice on capacity building, including new areas such as artificial intelligence and frontier technologies. Mr. Tang also met with Andean Community Secretary General Ambassador Gonzalo Gutiérrez and agreed on customized WIPO Academy courses on trademarks, patents and copyright.
- Visited Paccari chocolate producer showcasing the complete value chain integration, from sourcing and processing raw cocoa to packaging, export and commercialization. Paccari has successfully integrated IP into its growth journey, exporting to more than 40 countries where their brand is registered and protected.
- Participated in a cultural evening at La Circasiana Palace with universities, arts and creative sector representatives.