Vietnam to host AWGIPC meeting

Organized by the National Office of Intellectual Property (NOIP) under the MST, AWGIPC 53 will focus on the ASEAN’s action program on intellectual property (IP) for the 2016-2025 period and IP cooperation between ASEAN and its partners.

Delegates at AWGIPC 53 in Laos. (Photo: aseanip.org)

On the sidelines of the meeting, the NOIP and the Quang Ninh provincial Department of Science and Technology will jointly study and exchange experience on geographical indication- related registration and protection in Quang Ninh province with the aim of implementing geographical indication initiatives in the ASEAN’s action program on IP for the 2016-2025 period.

ASEAN promotes their IP cooperation through activities of the AWGIPC which convenes three times a year. The group’s operation is based on the ASEAN framework agreement on IP cooperation, which was approved at the fifth ASEAN Summit in Bangkok, Thailand in 1995.

The aim of the ASEAN cooperation on IP is to ensure reasonable and effective IP right protection in ASEAN via a number of specific programs and actions, including information and experience sharing, and building of national IP system’s capacity.

Over the past years, ASEAN has enjoyed development in IP cooperation with remarkable outcomes. Through activities of the AWGIPC, IP agencies have established close cooperation and boosted mutual understanding. Besides, ASEAN member countries have shared experience and assisted each other in making related laws, managing and exercising IP rights. Numerous proposed and implemented programs and projects have importantly contributed to the development of IP systems in ASEAN member countries in particular and to socio-economic development in general.