World Intellectual Property Day provides an opportunity for people of all nations to reflect on the importance of creativity and innovation in building a better world.

'Encouraging Creativity', the theme of this year's observance, is at the heart of the World Intellectual Property Organization's vision: that all nations, by harnessing the power of creativity and innovation through the use of the intellectual property system, can achieve economic growth and cultural development.

Human creativity drives advances in science, business, technology, and the arts ' in all human endeavor. Recognizing and developing this limitless resource, and exploiting it as an economic asset, is key to achieving prosperity in today's world.

Many governments have grasped this fact and are actively incorporating intellectual property policies into their overall development strategies. WIPO's goal is to work with all countries to assist them in this effort.

By building awareness of the value of intellectual property and developing the necessary infrastructure to help their citizens take full advantage of the IP system, all nations can create an economic environment and a culture that truly encourages creativity.