WIPO Director General Meets with Romanian President
Geneva, November 17, 2003
Press Updates UPD/2003/209
The strategic importance of intellectual property in promoting national economic objectives was the focus of talks between the Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Dr. Kamil Idris and President Ion Iliescu of Romania on Friday, November 14, 2003. At a meeting on the sidelines of the WIPO Policy Advisory Commission (PAC), meeting in Sinaia, Romania, Dr. Idris and President Iliescu agreed on the importance of the intellectual property system in advancing a country's national economic strategy. The Romanian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Mircea Geoana, also participated in the meeting.
President Iliescu outlined his country's commitment to the use of intellectual property to promote sustainable national economic, social and cultural development and made particular reference to the Romanian Government's adoption on November 13 of a national IP strategy. President Iliescu also underlined the importance of developing Romania's knowledge and cultural assets to promote sustained economic growth and improve Romania's competitiveness in the global marketplace.
Dr. Idris applauded the achievements of the Romanian Government in strengthening the intellectual property system in that country. He said that the adoption of the national IP strategy was an important initiative that promised to boost levels of investment and thereby promote national economic, social and cultural development. He added that it would further enable Romania to reap the vast economic potential of its extensive cultural wealth and advance Romania's economic, social and cultural development goals. Dr. Idris pledged WIPO's continued support in promoting greater use of intellectual property in Romania to foster economic, social and cultural development. Dr. Idris said that Romania's achievements in integrating intellectual property into its national planning processes would serve as a model for other countries in the region.
Dr. Idris was visiting Romania to address the WIPO Policy Advisory Commission which was held in Sinaia, Romania at the invitation of the President of Romania on November 14, 2003. The one-day meeting of the PAC endorsed the vision of Dr. Idris to use intellectual property as a tool for economic, social and cultural development. Members of the PAC which includes eminent personalities in the fields of politics, diplomacy, law and public administration discussed the importance of cultural industries to national economies and the strategic exploitation of intellectual property for development.
The PAC is a purely advisory body that is mandated to enhance WIPO's capacity to monitor and respond in a timely, informed and effective manner to international and regional developments in intellectual property, information technology and other fields bearing on WIPO's operations and policy environment. For further information on the PAC meeting, please see Update 2003/208.
For further information, please contact the Media Relations and Public Affairs Section at WIPO:
- Tel: (+41 22) 338 81 61 or (+41 22) 338 95 47;
- E-mail: publicinf@wipo.int
- Fax: (+41 22) 338 88 10.