LDCs to focus on intellectual property, regional summit starts tomorrow

Least developed countries (LDCs) will benefit from a two-day regional summit on intellectual property that will begin in Dhaka tomorrow, Industries Minister Dilip Barua said yesterday.
The countries will get from the meeting the guidelines on how to link intellectual property with their development and economic growth, the minister said at a press conference at his office.
"Bangladesh will get realistic ideas through the conference on how traditional knowledge, genetic resources, folklore and traditional cultural expressions can be incorporated in the country's development and economic growth."
World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) in collaboration with the industries ministry will organise the Asia-Pacific regional summit at Sonargoan Hotel.
The conference is aimed at policy formulation and finalisation of implementation strategies, Barua said.
At least three representatives from each of the 15 LDCs --Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, the Maldives, Afghanistan, Yemen, Laos, Cambodia, East Timor, Kiribati, Samoa, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and Tuvalu -- will participate in the summit.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to inaugurate the programme at 9:30 am.
Eight senior officials from the WIPO, including its Director General Dr Francis Gurry, will also be present at the summit.
The main purpose of the summit is to create a platform so the representatives from the LDCs can share their opinions and experiences with the regional leaders to develop and implement strategies on invention and creativity.
The meeting will discuss intellectual property and public policy issues, strategic importance of technology transfer, linking universities and research centers, role and contribution of copyright and related right, protection and exploration of traditional knowledge and folklore.
The industries minister said the convention would strengthen the institutional linkage among research institutions and universities across the countries.
The summit will help put forward necessary recommendations on how to strengthen connectivity among researchers, technologists and entrepreneurs, Barua said.
He said the intellectual property conference is the outcome of talks between him and WIPO Director General Francis Gurry on the sidelines of a meeting on strategic use of intellectual property held in Geneva in July last year, news agency BSS reports.
WIPO is a specialised agency of the United Nations, dedicated to developing a balanced and accessible international intellectual property system, which rewards creativity, stimulates innovation and contributes to economic development.