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The National Intellectual Policy for Zimbabwe was validated in December 2015 and is now awaiting approval by Cabinet for its official launch. The National IP Strategies (NIPS) identified capacity building and training of SMEs as the main target for action to enable this sector to exploit and use the IP System for their business development. In bilateral discussions between the Regional Bureau for Africa (RBA) and the Zimbabwean Delegation to the 2016 WIPO Assemblies, this point was reiterated by Ms. Virginia Mabiza, the Secretary for Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs. The idea mooted at that time was for the World Intellectual Property Organization to undertake a project on enhancing the competitiveness of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) through the effective use of the Intellectual Property (IP) System in Zimbabwe.
This request was subsequently discussed within the context of the preparation for the 2017 Workplans, in a meeting between RBA and the SMEs and Entrepreneurship Support Division, in November 2016, and the activity reflected in our respective Workplans for action.
During the 19th session of the CDIP that was held in Geneva from May 15 to 19, 2017, Mr. Mushayi met with Ms. Joyce Banya to follow up the discussions on this project, where it was agreed that (i) WIPO would prepare the project document and the terms of reference to be shared and agreed upon with ZIPO ii) the international and national consultants were to be identified and agreed upon and (iii) the project should be preceded with the organization of an IP awareness workshop targeting the relevant stakeholders who would be beneficiaries of the project.
The Secretary has written requesting for organization of the Workshop. See attached. It is now proposed to organize the Workshop on Enhancing the Competitiveness of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) Through Effective use of Intellectual Property System in Zimbabwe from August 28 to 30 2017, in Harare.
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