WIPO and Egyptian Institute for Diplomatic Studies Sign MOU

Geneva, March 29, 2007
PR/2007/486

Dr. Kamil Idris, the Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), and Dr. Walid Abdelnasser, the Director of the Institute for Diplomatic Studies, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Egypt, agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation in a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed in Geneva on March 28, 2007.

Dr. Idris welcomed the commitment of IDS to training in the field of intellectual property and added “This MOU will build on WIPO's existing cooperation with IDS, which is instrumental in raising awareness among Egyptian diplomats of the strategic importance of intellectual property.” Dr. Idris underlined the key role played by diplomats of member states in advancing international policy debates and said “Training is of particular importance in specialized areas such as intellectual property.”

Dr. Abdelnasser said “This MOU institutionalizes the ongoing relationship and cooperation between WIPO and IDS. The importance of this MOU lies in the fact that it provides an umbrella for continuing and further expanding programs between WIPO and IDS.” He added “In signing this MOU, we recognize the strategic importance of intellectual property to development and want to enhance the awareness of Egyptian diplomats and officials of this reality.”

The MOU outlines the scope of cooperation activities particularly in the field of intellectual property training. This MOU builds on long-standing existing cooperation activities between WIPO and IDS.