WIPO Deputy Director General Visits Singapore, Laos and Cambodia

May 5, 2017

WIPO Deputy Director General, Mr. John Sandage, undertook a mission to Singapore, Laos and Cambodia in February to participate in high level meetings, deliver presentations and engage with users of WIPO’s services such as the PCT System and alternative dispute resolution (ADR). Based in Geneva, Mr. Sandage has responsibility for WIPO’s Patents and Technology Sector.

WIPO Deputy Director General, Mr. John Sandage speaking during the inaugural high level dialogue forum with VIPs from Singapore’s IP industry (Photo: WIPO, Peter Willimott)

A highlight of Mr. Sandage’s time in Singapore was his involvement in the inaugural high level dialogue forum with VIPs from Singapore’s intellectual property (IP) industry. The forum attracted 20 of Singapore’s key IP experts including:

the president of the Association of Singapore Patent Attorneys;
the President of the AIPPI Singapore chapter;
members of the IPOS board;
managing partners of IP law firms;
IP diplomatic attachés;
academics from the National University of Singapore; and
government officials from the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) and the Ministry of Law.

Mr. Sandage provided the group with information on developments in the PCT, issues in the Standing Committee on the Law of Patents, and the work of WIPO’s Arbitration and Mediation Center. The forum provided attendees with an effective platform to raise issues and areas of interest relating to the PCT System and ADR.

Program of visits

Also whilst in Singapore, the Deputy Director General visited an innovation incubator, discussed the PCT System and ADR with users of WIPO’s services, met with officials from the Ministry of Law and held high level talks with the Chief Executive of IPOS, Mr. Daren Tang.

Mr. Sandage (5th from right), CE Daren Tan (6th from right) along with senior staff from IPOS, the WIPO Singapore Office and WIPO’s Arbitration and Mediation Center (Singapore). (Photo: IPOS)

In Laos Mr. Sandage met with Dr. Khanlasy Keobounphanh, Director General, Department of Intellectual Property, Ministry of Science and Technology, and in Cambodia, he met with H.E. Dr. Cham Prasidh, Senior Minister, Ministry of Industry and Handicrafts, as well as Mr. Phork Sovanrith, Secretary of State, Ministry of Industry and Handicrafts.

Mr. Sandage (left) and H.E. Dr. Cham Prasidh during the high level meeting (Photo: Ministry of Industry and Handicrafts)

Whilst in Cambodia he also participated in a PCT System National Seminar attended by patent agents and business owners interested in learning more about the benefits and workings of the PCT System. Cambodia deposited its instrument of accession to the PCT in September 2016.