WIPO Director General Meets U.S. Secretary of Commerce
Geneva, January 24, 2003
Press Releases PR/2003/336
The Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Dr. Kamil Idris, met with the Secretary of Commerce of the United States of America, Mr. Donald L. Evans, on January 23, 2003 at WIPO's Geneva headquarters. Discussions focused on the importance of intellectual property in today's knowledge-based economy, the work of WIPO and cooperation between the Organization and the U.S.
"We had an excellent meeting which covered issues of interest relating to several aspects of WIPO's work in general. Secretary Evans and myself agreed on the importance of intellectual property as a tool for development in today's increasingly knowledge-based economy," the Director General said after the meeting.
Secretary Evans agreed with Dr. Idris' assessment of the meeting, saying it was very constructive. "I was delighted to have the opportunity to sit down with Dr. Idris to review WIPO's work which is of critical importance not only to the U.S. and its technology- and knowledge-based economy but to the whole world," he said. Secretary Evans underlined the importance of intellectual property protection to economic and technological development and welcomed the positive collaboration between the U.S. and WIPO.
Dr. Idris briefed the U.S. delegation, which also included Ambassador Kevin Moley, U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva, on preparations for the WIPO Summit on Intellectual Property and the Knowledge Economy in Beijing from April 24 to 26, 2003.
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