The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) meeting (5th and 6th May, 2015)
(Left:Charge d' Affaires ad interim Sakamoto giving his opening speech, Right: Participants )
On 5th and 6th May, a meeting “Integrating Intellectual Property into Innovation Policy Formulation-Presentation of Report” was held at a Hotel in Kigali. In 2008, the Japanese government established new Funds-in-Trust in WIPO in order to support capacity building in the field of intellectual property rights (IPRs) in Africa and least developed countries by increasing the existing amount of contribution of Funds-in-Trust of Japan. The Japanese government provides 1.1million Schweizer Franken per year into the Funds, and this meeting was organized under the framework of this Funds-in Trust of Japan arrangement.
The report that was prepared under the support of Funds-in-Trust of Japan was presented in this meeting, and the officials from the Ministry of Trade and Industry, the Rwanda Development Board, and related parties gathered. Mr. Sakamoto, Charge d' Affaires ad interim of the Embassy of Japan, gave his remarks as a representative of the Japanese government at the opening ceremony, and he stated that Japan and Rwanda have limited natural resources, thus, the intellectual property system not only plays an important role by fostering innovation but forms an indispensable element in the commercial environment by protecting valuable business assets, and he hoped that this meeting which was conducted under the Funds-in-Trust by cooperation between WIPO and Japan Patent Office (JPO)contributes to further economic development in Rwanda.
Mr. Sakamoto, Charge d' Affaires ad interim at the Embassy, Speech