WIPO Director General Meets with President Of Croatia
Geneva, December 11, 2003
Press Releases PR/2003/370
The Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Dr. Kamil Idris, and H.E. Mr. Stjepan Mesic, President of Croatia, discussed at a meeting at WIPO's Geneva headquarters on December 11, 2003, possibilities for strengthening collaboration between WIPO and Croatia to further exploit the strategic potential of intellectual property as a tool for economic, social and cultural development. Dr. Idris pledged the Organization's continued support to Croatia in terms of providing legal and technical assistance to further strengthen Croatia's intellectual property system.
Dr. Idris said WIPO will support Croatia in its efforts to modernize its legislative and administrative intellectual property framework and to establish an intellectual property culture in that country. WIPO is prepared to provide assistance to Croatia in upgrading enforcement mechanisms, and strengthening the role of intellectual property in the country's scientific, technological and economic activities. The Director General underlined the importance for transition countries like Croatia to fully integrate intellectual property into their wider economic policies.
Dr. Idris and President Mesic also discussed the economic significance of small and medium enterprises and the potential of intellectual property to further the development and enhance the competitiveness of this sector. SMEs today are the backbone of many national economies. Broadly speaking, they account, for over 90% of all enterprises worldwide, over 70% of production of goods and services and over 35% of exports. SMEs are a rich source of innovation and entrepreneurship which can efficiently harness individual creative effort and convert it into the production and commercialization of new and original products. Often, however, SMEs are not fully aware of the intellectual property system and its potential for business development. Dr. Idris pledged WIPO's support in helping to promote awareness and use of the intellectual property system by SMEs in Croatia.
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