Director General Tang Visits Oman
March 8, 2023
Director General Daren Tang paid an official visit to Oman where he announced a new project to support the country’s frankincense sector. He also met high-level government officials and others, including Omani youth, for discussions centered on how IP can support and drive investments, create jobs and protect the country’s rich cultural heritage and natural resources.
During his March 6 to 7, 2023, visit Mr. Tang met with His Highness Sayyid Asaad bin Tariq Al Said, Deputy Prime Minister for International Relations and Cooperation Affairs and Personal Representative of His Majesty the Sultan for discussions on leveraging IP as a tool for value addition to special Oman products, such as frankincense.
In this context, Mr. Tang said he was pleased to announce a new WIPO project to support frankincense producers in adding value and transforming their geographical indication, or GI, protected frankincense. Through an intensive mentoring process scheduled to last between six and 10 months, the project would help Omani frankincense producers to improve the packaging and branding of their products, with the goal of opening avenues for higher sales, including in overseas markets.
Mr. Tang and his Highness also discussed the importance of frankincense for the medical sector as well how GIs can help protect and promote other Omani products, such as the Al-Saidi dagger.
In a meeting with Mr. Qais bin Mohammed bin Moosa Al Yousef, Minister of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion and Mr. Saleh Musen, Undersecretary, the Director General highlighted that IP could be a key enabler for the achievement of development goals set out in Oman Vision 2040. He highlighted how it will serve key stakeholders such as small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as well as young people in Oman, who comprise over 60% of the population.
Mr. Tang praised the rich abundance of origin-based products in Oman such as Omani frankincense, and the Al-Saidi Dagger - products that were a reflection of national character and representing a continuity of traditions and rich traditional knowledge.
He also noted that Oman was the first country in the Gulf Cooperation Council to join the Lisbon Agreement related to the international protection of GIs and highlighted the economic opportunities from registering frankincense in the Lisbon System that helps promote sales of GI-protected products in foreign markets.
Mr. Tang and the Undersecretary also discussed other aspects of cooperation to further develop the IP ecosystem in Oman, including through its national IP plan and activities to leverage a national network of technology and training centers.
The discussion raised the importance of building the IP skills and capacity of diverse stakeholders and noted the imminent signing of a memorandum of understanding for a Joint MA Degree Program in Intellectual Property and Innovation (MIPI) with Sultan Qaboos University (SQU).
Mr. Tang also highlighted the innovative spirit of Oman’s young population – and the role IP can play in helping to turn their ideas into reality. He noted that the 2022 WIPO Youth Ambassador Neeam Al Harrasi was from Oman and was first to hold the title in the Arab region.
During his meeting with Mr. Ibrahim bin Saeed bin Khalaf Al Kharousi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, Mr. Tang praised Oman for its ability to combine its rich cultural heritage and traditional knowledge with modern techniques and processes. Mr. Tang and the Undersecretary discussed the importance of adding value to Omani Sarooj (a type of cement made with traditional techniques) through modern quality-assurance technologies as well as branding and designs. The immense opportunities from using IP in the context of Oman’s growing tourism sector was also discussed and Mr. Tang underlined that WIPO was ready to support Oman in using the IP system for its growing tourism industry.
In a meeting with Ms. Halima bint Rashid bin Suleiman Al Zarei, CEO of Riyada, the SMEs Development Authority of Oman, Mr. Tang highlighted the importance of SMEs to the achievement of Oman Vision 2040 by driving economic diversification and business growth and encouraging investment. He also urged Oman to make use of WIPO’s services geared to SMEs, including the WIPO IP Diagnostics tool. He also urged the greater participation of Omani SMEs in WIPO’s practical skills-development courses with a business angle, such as distance learning courses that include IP for Exporters and IP for Startups. Mr. Tang also highlighted the emerging global discussions on IP valuation and IP financing and WIPO’s readiness to engage with Oman in this area. Riyada expressed its interest in being a partner to WIPO’s frankincense project.
During his visit, Mr. Tang also signed a letter of Intent with Sheikh Khalifa bin Ali bin Issa al-Harthy, Under Secretary for Diplomatic Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs for training and capacity building programs for diplomats. The trainings would equip diplomats with knowledge and skills on IP fundamentals and the linkages among IP and key global challenges, such as public health, food security, and climate change. It was noted that the WIPO Academy would work closely with the Diplomatic Institute of Oman to develop and deliver the tailor-made training programs for Oman.
In discussions with Dr. Rahma bint Ibrahim bin Saeed al Mahrouqi, Minister of Higher Education, Research and Innovation, Mr. Tang highlighted the important role played by IP in fueling innovative and research activities. He noted the importance of further engaging universities and institutions of higher education on business aspects of IP to ensure that ideas and research are successfully translated into market opportunities. Mr. Tang and the Minister also discussed the rich ongoing cooperation between Oman and the WIPO Academy, as well as the possible establishment of an IP training institute in Oman, and collaboration for the establishment of a joint master program on IP and innovation management.
In a meeting with Mr. Khamis bin Saif Al Jabri, Head of the Oman Vision 2040 Implementation Follow-up Unit, Mr. Tang praised the group for leading the way toward the successful achievement of Oman’s national long-term development strategy based on innovation, which seeks to transform Oman in a knowledge based economy. He commended the activation of 59 “Vision Offices” in government institutions that ensure accurate follow-up of operational plans necessary to achieve the performance indicators of Vision 2040. Mr. Tang noted the inclusion of the Global Innovation Index as a key reference for Vision 2040 and underlined the role played by IP in achieving specific national goals in education, research, private sector development and encouraging investment.
Mr. Tang also met with Mr. Ahmed bin Nasser Al-Bakri, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, and discussed how IP can enable the translation of research into tangible products and promote commercialization in the agricultural sector. The discussion also focused on how IP tools such as GIs can promote value addition and support community development, especially for products originating from regions famous for their diversity of agricultural products such as such as Al-Jabal Al-Akhdar. Mr. Tang and the Undersecretary also agreed to continue cooperation under the framework of the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV).
Mr. Tang also engaged with young stakeholders of the Omani IP ecosystem during a visit to the newly established Youth Centre – a hub that has quickly grown to offer a range of programs and initiatives that focus on social and professional development for younger Omanis
Mr. Tang engaged in an interactive session with the young audience - comprised of fashion designers, mobile application developers and researchers - and commended Oman for its commitment to supporting the development and empowerment of young people including through its Vision 2040. He noted that WIPO stood ready to support young people to use IP to grow businesses and turn their research into products.
WIPO Director General Daren Tang spoke with Omani youth during an event at the Oman Youth Centre:
