The African Intellectual Property Organization (OAPI) celebrated the 24th African Technology and Intellectual Property Day on 13 September 2023, under the theme 'Intellectual Property: Business Competitiveness Challenges'.
Stakeholders, such as the member states, used the event as an opportunity to discuss and devise solutions to challenges that their economies are facing.
Commemorating the day, Togo's Minister of Trade, Handicrafts and Local Consumption, Kayi Mivedor-Sambiani, remarked that unlawful competition is a reality companies are faced with every day.
"Intellectual property is crucial for the protection of inventions, designs, and trade marks, and an effective mechanism to combat unfair competition. Intellectual property should, therefore, be integrated as an effective measure by any company in the quest for development, and as a strategy to expand and establish an economic footprint on the African continent."
OAPI AWARDS
The fourth edition of the OAPI Awards took place from 13 to 15 September in Lomé, the capital of Togo. At the heart of the event is encouraging and celebrating the efforts of creative and innovative minds across the African continent. Individuals and companies who made their mark in intellectual property, including patents, trade marks, industrial design, and media are rewarded for their valuable contributions in this regard.
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