Director General Assures Caribbean Countries of WIPO's Continued Support

Geneva, October 3, 2001
Press Releases PR/2001/292

The Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Dr. Kamil Idris, assured a group of Caribbean countries on Wednesday of the Organization's continued support in building robust intellectual property systems in the region. At a meeting with delegates from several Caribbean countries, Dr. Idris said WIPO cooperation for development activities in the region will be further strengthened.

WIPO's assistance to this group of countries is long-standing. Following the WIPO Ministerial Level Meeting (attended by ministers responsible for intellectual property) held in Castries, Saint Lucia, in October 2000, several projects were agreed. These cover the following areas: collective management of copyright, automation of intellectual property offices, deployment of WIPONET, electronic commerce, enforcement of intellectual property rights, traditional knowledge and folklore, training and human resources development, and assistance to universities. Dr. Idris pledged WIPO's continuing assistance in these areas, as well as in institution building and training on intellectual property for individual countries. These issues will be reviewed at the next ministerial-level meeting to be held in Paramaribo, Suriname, in April 2002.

The meeting also considered a suggestion by the Caribbean countries to facilitate broader involvement in WIPO activities by states that do not have permanent representation in Geneva. The Director General agreed to consider possibilities in this regard. The delegation included representatives from Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Jamaica, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago.

For further information, please contact the Media Relations and Public Affairs Section at WIPO:

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