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WIPO and Arab Organization for AgriculturalDevelopment (AOAD) Agree on Future Cooperation

Geneva, June 6, 2002
Press Updates UPD/2002/170

The Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Dr. Kamil Idris, and Dr. Salem Al-Louzi, Director General of the Arab Organization for Agricultural Development (AOAD), signed a memorandum of understanding on June 3, 2002 which paves the way for future cooperation between the two organizations in the area of intellectual property.

During their meeting, Dr. Idris and Dr. Al-Louzi discussed the critical importance of the intellectual property system to the development and prosperity of a nation. It was stressed that effective use and respect of intellectual property was a key means by which to convert the wealth of knowledge and technical know-how of a nation into concrete economic growth, higher levels of employment and improved living standards. Dr Idris pointed out that intellectual property protection is also effective in safeguarding the authenticity of culture.

They also discussed the importance of plant variety protection and its direct relation to food security. Plant variety protection encourages the new development of improved varieties which help to secure food security thanks to higher yields and better quality produce that is more resistant to disease. Dr. Idris and Dr. Al-Louzi also discussed the positive impact of innovation and invention both in terms of improving agricultural efficiency and economic development in general. Questions relating to bio-diversity, biotechnology, and traditional knowledge in relation to agriculture were also reviewed.

The agreement signed by the heads of both organizations calls for exchange of information, conducting studies, organizing training courses, seminars and workshops and other research activities in the field of protection of intellectual property rights. With regard to plant variety protection, WIPO will seek the cooperation of the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV).

Dr. Al-Louzi was accompanied by Dr. Sadiq Al-Azraq, Director of International Cooperation, AOAD. AOAD is based in Khartoum, Sudan and includes 21 member states and has ten national offices in the Arab region.

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

  • Tel: (+41 22) - 338 81 61 or 338 95 47
  • Fax: (+41 22) - 338 88 10
  • Email: publicinf@wipo.int.
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