United Arab Emirates: The GCC General Secretariat Engaged In The TRIPS Council Meeting, Emphasizing Technical Cooperation And Capacity Building In Intellectual Property

The meeting of the TRIPS Council¹ was held and the General Secretariat of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf, through its Patent Office and the Economic Affairs Sector participated in the meeting.²

The TRIPS Council serves as the platform within the WTO where member nations engage in discussions regarding the functioning and execution of the TRIPS Agreement³. It also serves as a forum for consultations on topics concerning the intersection of intellectual property and trade.

The agenda covered a range of topics, reports, and updates related to various intellectual property categories. Throughout the session, the General Secretariat reviewed its annual report on technical cooperation and capacity building in the realm of intellectual property⁴. This report shed light on the collective efforts of GCC countries to strengthen and advance capabilities across diverse aspects of intellectual property and innovation.

Furthermore, the Council explored ways incubators and accelerators can assist cross-border start-ups with IP and economic integration. Members highlighted existing programs supporting start-ups, underscoring their vital role in innovation and economic growth.

Footnotes

1. WTO | 2023 News items - Members to continue dialogue on extending TRIPS Decision to therapeutics and diagnostics (2023.10.31)

2. https://www.gcc-sg.org/ar-sa/MediaCenter/NewsCooperation/News/Pages/news2023-10-31-2.aspx (2023.10.31)

3. 31bis_trips_e.pdf (wto.org) (2017.1.23)

4. directdoc.aspx (wto.org) (2023.9.19)

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