Representatives from the Lao Ministry of Industry and Commerce (MOIC), ASEAN Secretariats, and the World Intellectual Property Organization held a brainstorming meeting on 17-20 October in Vientiane Capital to develop a 10-year ASEAN Intellectual Property Cooperation Action Plan (2026–2035) and upgrade the ASEAN Framework Agreement on Cooperation in Intellectual Property.
The meeting, chaired by Santisouk Phounsavath, Director General of the Department of Intellectual Property, saw the attendance of representatives from the World Property Organization, Global Intelligence, intellectual property experts, and the intellectual property offices of ASEAN member countries.
The meeting discussed various key intellectual property issues, including policy, legislation, law enforcement, education, culture, public health, environment, digital economy, ASEAN Vision 2025, and UN Sustainable Development Goals.
“This brainstorming meeting marks a new chapter in ASEAN intellectual property work. It will review the progress of the ASEAN Intellectual Property Cooperation Action Plan, identify areas for improvement, and set priorities for the next 10 years,” said Santisouk, as reported by Pathed Lao.
At the meeting, the Lao delegate also remarked that intellectual property work plays an important role in contributing to the achievement of the national and regional economic and social development goals of the ASEAN Economic Community.
“ASEAN must focus on strengthening the intellectual property cooperation framework and promoting innovation to make intellectual property work a key driver of business, economic, cultural, and social development in the region, in line with the ASEAN motto “One Vision, One Identity, One Community,” he added.
ASEAN Economy Ministers are expected to finalize and adopt the 10-year ASEAN Intellectual Property Cooperation Action Plan in 2024.
