WIPO Director General and President of Kyrgystan Discuss Intellectual Property Promotion

Geneva, February 22, 2001
Press Releases PR/2001/257

The Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Dr. Kamil Idris, and the President of Kyrgystan, Mr. Askar Akaev, agreed on February 21, 2001 about the importance of intellectual property to the country's economic and cultural well-being. At a meeting in Bishkek, Dr. Idris welcomed the President's personal commitment to promoting intellectual property and innovation in Kyrgystan. In recognition of these efforts, and at the recommendation of the Association of Inventors and Rationalizers of Kyrgyzstan and the National Academy of Sciences of the Kyrgyz Republic, Dr. Idris presented President Akaev with a WIPO gold medal, for his achievement as an inventor and for his substantive contribution to the establishment and development of the intellectual property system in Kyrgyzstan.

"I am here personally to support your vision and your efforts to strengthen the intellectual property system in Kyrgystan. It is a double pleasure for me because you are also a promoter of science and technology and an inventor," Dr. Idris said during the meeting. The Director General applauded the President's initiative to merge the portfolios of the government authorities that deal with both science and intellectual property. "This is a marriage of intelligence and not a marriage of convenience," Dr. Idris commented. By strengthening the intellectual property system, Dr. Idris said, Kyrgystan is better placed to attract foreign direct investment and facilitate the transfer, development and adaptation of technology. The Director General noted that Kyrgystan's greatest asset is its human capital and observed that the intellectual property system helps convert this into tangible commercial results.

President Akaev, noting the country's limited natural resources, agreed on the value of human capital. Intellectual property, he said, is at the heart of this. The President and Dr. Idris discussed new areas of relevance to intellectual property, namely traditional knowledge, genetic resources and folklore. These issues are of direct relevance to Kyrgystan which boasts a rich cultural heritage.

President Akaev accepted an invitation by Dr. Idris to become a member of the Policy Advisory Commission (PAC), which is made up of eminent personalities from the fields of politics, diplomacy, law and public administration. The PAC is mandated to enhance WIPO's strategic capacity to monitor and respond in a timely, informed and effective manner to international and regional developments in intellectual property, in information technology and in other fields bearing on WIPO's operations and its policy environment. The insights offered by members of the PAC help to ensure that the Organization remains relevant to the changing realities of the modern world and provide invaluable assistance in supporting the Organization's quest to demystify intellectual property.

During his visit to Kyrgystan (February 21-22, 2001), the Director General met with the First Vice Prime Minister, Mr. Nicolay Tanaev, with whom he signed a cooperation agreement. The agreement outlines a framework for WIPO's future cooperation with Kyrgystan in the field of intellectual property.

The Director General also visited the State Agency for Science and Intellectual Property and met with Dr. Roman Omarov, Director of the Agency and other staff members who expressed their gratitude to WIPO for having donated computer equipment - both hardware and software. This has allowed the Agency to computerize its activities and thereby to increase its efficiency.

Further, the National University conferred upon the Director General an honorary professorship. Dr. Idris addressed a gathering of students and academics to highlight the importance of intellectual property in today's knowledge-driven societies. A request was also made by the University for support by WIPO's Worldwide Academy to establishing a distance learning program in intellectual property.

The Director General wrapped up his official visit to Kyrgystan with a meeting at the National Academy of Sciences, where he exchanged views with leading scientists about the importance of intellectual property in promoting innovation and invention.

For further information, contact the Media Relations & Public Affairs Section at WIPO: Tel: + 41 22 338 81 61 or 338 95 47; Fax: + 41 22 338 88 10; E-mail: publicinf@wipo.int.