Says trade-related matters should be kept under right domain. PHOTO: FILE
ISLAMABAD: After taking charge of the administrative control of Intellectual Property Organization (IPO), the Ministry of Commerce (MoC) now intends to take the responsibility of representing Pakistan at the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), which is currently under the domain of the Foreign Office.
In this regard, a summary will be forwarded to the Prime Minister for formal shifting of IP representation from the Foreign Office to the commerce ministry.
The ministry noted that since the Foreign Office mostly deals with political and diplomatic issues, matters pertaining to trade and the responsibility of IPO related matters at WIPO must be handled by the permanent representative of the commerce ministry at WTO, Geneva.
Following the commerce ministry's recent takeover of Intellectual Property Organization (IPO) from cabinet division, it has started developing National IP Strategy to smoothen and strengthen the field of trade-marks, patents, copy rights and industrial design.
The proposal of placing IPO under MoC was put forward in the Strategic Trade Policy Framework (STPF 2015-18), which was approved by the Prime Minister in March this year.
The ministry believes that the step will support innovation and creation of marketable and exportable IP products, export promotion, economic development, foreign direct investment (FDI) and prosperity of genuine businesses in the country.
The ministry has also decided on establishing a new web portal of the IPO.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 6th, 2016.
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