INTA Briefs Officials from WIPO and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development

In late June, INTA’s Representative, Africa and Middle East, Tat-Tienne Louembe, held meetings with officials at the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

Mr. Louembe shared INTA’s latest activities in Africa-including INTA CEO Etienne Sanz de Acedo’s recent visit to Kenya, the Association’s analyses of various IP strategies and laws, and briefings of government officials and private sector representatives-with WIPO’s Regional Bureau for Africa. Mr. Louembe also updated WIPO on the participation of delegates from Ghana, Kenya, and Uganda at INTA’s 140th Annual Meeting in Seattle, Washington, in May.

Mr. Louembe also held discussions with senior officials of the Regional Bureau for the Arab Countries of WIPO regarding potential joint activities and INTA’s upcoming Middle East and Africa Conference: Innovation, Investment, and IP, which will be held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on December 10 and 11. The two-day conference for trademark owners and legal professionals will focus on the opportunities and challenges of attracting investment to the regions, how innovation is re-shaping the economy, and the importance of a robust IP strategy for effective protection and enforcement in these regions.

At UNCTAD, Mr. Louembe met with Patrick Osakwe, Deputy Director, Africa and Least Developed Countries Division. Among other topics, Mr. Louembe and Mr. Osakwe agreed to look into the nexus between illicit trade and trademarks in selected jurisdictions.

UNCTAD is a permanent intergovernmental body established by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly in 1964.

While UNCTAD works mainly with governments to effectively deal with the magnitude and complexity of meeting the Sustainable Development Goals, the UN body is gradually opening up to the private sector and civil society.

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