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During the General Assemblies of 2013, the Government of Namibia, through its Minister for Trade and Industry, H.E. Mr. Calle Schlettwein, requested the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) to assist the Government in the formulation of a national intellectual property (IP) policy and strategy. Due to a restructuring of the IP administration process in the country, the project could not take place immediately after the request. Following the successful restructuring of the authority, discussions resumed between officials of the Regional Bureau for Africa and the Namibian IP Authority.
In order to conduct the project for elaboration of the national IP strategy, WIPO will assist the Government of Namibia by engaging IP experts who will carry out their tasks in accordance with the WIPO Methodology: a process designed, tested and consolidated as part of the WIPO Development Agenda . The process comprises a thorough research and IP audit phase, followed by a national consultation process, during which stakeholders are invited to review, discuss and consolidate strategic orientations with regard to the use of the IP system to support the achievement of national development goals and recommend specific activities and projects for implementation in the short, medium and long term.
Following consultations, and taking into account new developments in the administration of IP rights, it has been agreed as a first step in the process to organize a national multi-stakeholder Workshop in Windhoek, Namibia. The aim of the Workshop is to sensitize and provide senior policy makers, government officials, representatives from industry, Research and Development (R&D) institutes, the Universities, the business sector and other IP stakeholders, an opportunity to exchange views and share experiences for a better understanding of the various aspects of IP, its contribution to development and the importance of formulating a national IP policy and strategy. The inclusiv |