Intellectual Property Organisation (IPO-Pakistan) Chairman MNA Hameed Ullah Jan Afridi said on Wednesday the IPO had now become a legal entity after passage of IPO of Pakistan Act, 2012, and launched projects for development of institutional framework, capacity building, enhancing mutual cooperation and rectifying memorandum of understanding with different organisations.
He was addressing the concluding session of SMEs Conference and Seminar on IPR held at Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industries (RCCI) jointly organised by Industries, Commerce & Investment Department Punjab in collaboration with IPO-Pakistan, Agriculture Department, PSIC and RCCI on Wednesday.
Afridi said the role of small and medium enterprises (SME's) had become imperative for promotion of economic activities which would help create job opportunities, investment climate and human resource development at grassroots level. A collaborative development network is required to provide a platform to all stakeholders for their input for economic well-being of the country.
The IPO Chairman said IPO had got legal status after passage of IP Act 2012 and the organisation had initiated a number of projects as mentioned above, adding that SMEs sector had great potential to promote indigenous creative capabilities. He further said IPO-Pakistan had set up IP Facilitation Desks at LCCI, KCCI and Smeda offices at Lahore and Karachi to facilitate IP right holders for information dissemination and guidance about IP rights registration.
He also announced for opening similar Facilitation Desk at RCCI with the cooperation of Smeda. The Chairman emphasised on cooperation among IP stakeholders for promotion and protection of IPRs in the country. Director General IPO-Pakistan, Sajjad Ahmad Bhutta underlined the need of developing market-oriented innovative capabilities among the IP right creators in the SME sector. He further said that database of SMEs was being developed to address their sectoral issues. IPR enforcement is being strengthened for effective IP rights protection.
Acting President RCCI, Chudhry Pervez Ahmad Warraich assured that RCCI would continue its cooperation with IPO-Pakistan, Punjab Government and other stakeholders for protection of IP rights. He appreciated the decision of starting IP Facilitation Desks at RCCI by IPO-Pakistan which would help the local manufacturers and traders to register their IP rights for business promotion.
Earlier Nasir Rafique, Chief WTO/Project Director Geographical Indications, IC&I Dept, Government of Punjab, gave brief introduction of GI project which is successfully being conducted in Punjab for registration and protection of unique local products of the province. Later, Muhammad Asghar Nasar from Smeda and Muhammad Ismail from IPO-Pakistan made presentations on SME and IP subjects.
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