WIPO sets up first Asian Office in Singapore
The World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) has set up its first Asian office in Singapore. The WIPO Singapore Office is at 29 Heng Mui Keng Terrace, Singapore.
Speech by Senior Minister of State for Law, Assoc Prof Ho Peng Kee at the Official Inauguration is reproduced.
Introduction
It gives me great pleasure to be here today at the official inauguration of the World Intellectual Property Organization Singapore Office. I would like to extend a warm welcome to delegates and members of the business, diplomatic and IP communities who have come to witness this important event. There are, in fact, two significant events taking place today: the official inauguration of the World Intellectual Property Organization, or W-I-P-O, Singapore Office, and the opening of the Asia-Pacific Regional Symposium on Intellectual Property for Development, which is jointly organized by W-I-P-O and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with the assistance of the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore, or IPOS.
Role of the W-I-P-O Singapore Office
2 On behalf of the Singapore Government, let me first offer my congratulations and warmest wishes to W-I-P-O on the opening of the Singapore Office. We believe that W-I-P-O's decision to set up an Office in the Asia-Pacific region is significant in many ways, not just for Singapore and for W-I-P-O, but also for the Asia-Pacific region. We in Singapore are extremely pleased to host this W-I-P-O office which will help W-I-P-O better serve the IP needs of countries in this region.
For Singapore: A Key Milestone in Singapore's IP Journey
3 For Singapore, the W-I-P-O Singapore Office marks an important milestone in our IP journey. Like all countries, we face the key challenge of aligning our national IP strategies to support our economic development goals, while at the same time balancing the rights and interests of various IP stakeholders.
4 Over the past two decades, Singapore has taken concrete steps to strengthen our IP regime and develop greater IP awareness. We have improved our IP legal infrastructure to create greater incentives for innovation and creation. We have also improved the efficiency of our IP registration systems through streamlining of processes, which will benefit business and industry. At the same time, we have launched new initiatives to raise IP awareness and implemented safeguards to protect the needs of IP users. Now, we even have a dedicated IP website for kids and schoolchildren. All these efforts have already begun to generate benefits nationally, such as in making Singapore an attractive location for IP-rich companies to locate themselves, for example in the bio-medical and creative industries.
5 Internationally, Singapore's commitment has always been to be a responsible and constructive player in the IP arena. One of our strengths is the ability to facilitate the ongoing dialogue between IP stakeholders and to bring together and encourage the sharing of knowledge between IP experts, professionals and institutions.
6 A concrete example is how Singapore has been forthcoming in sharing the lessons learnt from our own IP journey. IPOS has, at the request of the W-I-P-O, worked with several IP offices in the region such as in Pakistan, Myanmar and Cambodia on IP technical assistance and consultation projects. Singapore is also keen to learn from other countries' experiences in IP. That is why IPOS carries out frequent dialogues with numerous IP offices in both developed and developing countries. It is our hope that the W-I-P-O Singapore Office will strengthen the dialogue between IP offices in the region. Indeed, we look forward to continuing these efforts and exploring new initiatives in cooperation with it.
For W-I-P-O: A Symbol of Commitment to the Asia-Pacific
7 I understand that this Singapore Office is significant for WIPO as it is the first office located in a region primarily made up of developing countries. What it means is that W-I-P-O recognises the importance of reaching out to its members in this region and in better serving their needs. This Office stands as a concrete example of W-I-P-O's commitment to its constituents in the Asia and Pacific region in furthering the development of IP as a tool for economic growth.
8 The Asia-Pacific is rapidly emerging as an exciting region of new growth for IP, presenting both W-I-P-O and the region with many opportunities for closer cooperation. Being situated in Asia, this Singapore Office is well-placed to foster closer ties between W-I-P-O and the various IP offices in the region, including facilitating constructive dialogue on issues in the international IP agenda. I understand that Ms Rowena Paguio, the Head of the Singapore Office, has already been hard at work doing so, even before the official inauguration of the Office. The addition of this Singapore Office to W-I-P-O's existing network of offices in Geneva, Washington, New York and Brussels, will most certainly increase W-I-P-O's reach, strengthening its mission of creating a culture of respect for IP worldwide.
For Asia and the Pacific Region: An Opportunity to Advance the International IP Agenda
9 For the Asia-Pacific Region, the W-I-P-O Singapore Office presents further opportunities for us all to advance the global IP agenda in various ways; for example, member countries can take advantage of the Office's proximity to better leverage on W-I-P-O's numerous programmes and its technical assistance initiatives. Another example is that this W-I-P-O Singapore Office can help promote dialogue and foster deeper relationships between the countries in the Asia-Pacific region.
10 Well, today's Symposium is a proof for all to see. As the first major activity organised by the new Office, it is fitting that the Symposium's theme is Intellectual Property for Development, given W-I-P-O's commitment to making IP a powerful economic development tool. From the programme, I note that a number of eminent speakers will be sharing their views on key issues of interest such as effective IP strategies for national development, balancing competing priorities in IP policy and the new business role of IP offices in the 21st century.
11 This Symposium presents an excellent opportunity for member countries in both developed and developing countries to share their experiences and exchange views on the relationship between IP and development goals. While I am sure that the insights shared through this dialogue will prove enriching and valuable to all participants, we should not allow this exchange to stop here. Indeed, I understand that W-I-P-O has already mapped out a full agenda of activities for this year. Please continue to support its activities.
Conclusion
12 Let me end by wishing all delegates a fruitful exchange at the Symposium and by extending, once again, my heartiest congratulations to W-I-P-O on the official inauguration of its Singapore Office.
Speech by Senior Minister of State for Law, Assoc Prof Ho Peng Kee at the Official Inauguration is reproduced.
Introduction
It gives me great pleasure to be here today at the official inauguration of the World Intellectual Property Organization Singapore Office. I would like to extend a warm welcome to delegates and members of the business, diplomatic and IP communities who have come to witness this important event. There are, in fact, two significant events taking place today: the official inauguration of the World Intellectual Property Organization, or W-I-P-O, Singapore Office, and the opening of the Asia-Pacific Regional Symposium on Intellectual Property for Development, which is jointly organized by W-I-P-O and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with the assistance of the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore, or IPOS.
Role of the W-I-P-O Singapore Office
2 On behalf of the Singapore Government, let me first offer my congratulations and warmest wishes to W-I-P-O on the opening of the Singapore Office. We believe that W-I-P-O's decision to set up an Office in the Asia-Pacific region is significant in many ways, not just for Singapore and for W-I-P-O, but also for the Asia-Pacific region. We in Singapore are extremely pleased to host this W-I-P-O office which will help W-I-P-O better serve the IP needs of countries in this region.
For Singapore: A Key Milestone in Singapore's IP Journey
3 For Singapore, the W-I-P-O Singapore Office marks an important milestone in our IP journey. Like all countries, we face the key challenge of aligning our national IP strategies to support our economic development goals, while at the same time balancing the rights and interests of various IP stakeholders.
4 Over the past two decades, Singapore has taken concrete steps to strengthen our IP regime and develop greater IP awareness. We have improved our IP legal infrastructure to create greater incentives for innovation and creation. We have also improved the efficiency of our IP registration systems through streamlining of processes, which will benefit business and industry. At the same time, we have launched new initiatives to raise IP awareness and implemented safeguards to protect the needs of IP users. Now, we even have a dedicated IP website for kids and schoolchildren. All these efforts have already begun to generate benefits nationally, such as in making Singapore an attractive location for IP-rich companies to locate themselves, for example in the bio-medical and creative industries.
5 Internationally, Singapore's commitment has always been to be a responsible and constructive player in the IP arena. One of our strengths is the ability to facilitate the ongoing dialogue between IP stakeholders and to bring together and encourage the sharing of knowledge between IP experts, professionals and institutions.
6 A concrete example is how Singapore has been forthcoming in sharing the lessons learnt from our own IP journey. IPOS has, at the request of the W-I-P-O, worked with several IP offices in the region such as in Pakistan, Myanmar and Cambodia on IP technical assistance and consultation projects. Singapore is also keen to learn from other countries' experiences in IP. That is why IPOS carries out frequent dialogues with numerous IP offices in both developed and developing countries. It is our hope that the W-I-P-O Singapore Office will strengthen the dialogue between IP offices in the region. Indeed, we look forward to continuing these efforts and exploring new initiatives in cooperation with it.
For W-I-P-O: A Symbol of Commitment to the Asia-Pacific
7 I understand that this Singapore Office is significant for WIPO as it is the first office located in a region primarily made up of developing countries. What it means is that W-I-P-O recognises the importance of reaching out to its members in this region and in better serving their needs. This Office stands as a concrete example of W-I-P-O's commitment to its constituents in the Asia and Pacific region in furthering the development of IP as a tool for economic growth.
8 The Asia-Pacific is rapidly emerging as an exciting region of new growth for IP, presenting both W-I-P-O and the region with many opportunities for closer cooperation. Being situated in Asia, this Singapore Office is well-placed to foster closer ties between W-I-P-O and the various IP offices in the region, including facilitating constructive dialogue on issues in the international IP agenda. I understand that Ms Rowena Paguio, the Head of the Singapore Office, has already been hard at work doing so, even before the official inauguration of the Office. The addition of this Singapore Office to W-I-P-O's existing network of offices in Geneva, Washington, New York and Brussels, will most certainly increase W-I-P-O's reach, strengthening its mission of creating a culture of respect for IP worldwide.
For Asia and the Pacific Region: An Opportunity to Advance the International IP Agenda
9 For the Asia-Pacific Region, the W-I-P-O Singapore Office presents further opportunities for us all to advance the global IP agenda in various ways; for example, member countries can take advantage of the Office's proximity to better leverage on W-I-P-O's numerous programmes and its technical assistance initiatives. Another example is that this W-I-P-O Singapore Office can help promote dialogue and foster deeper relationships between the countries in the Asia-Pacific region.
10 Well, today's Symposium is a proof for all to see. As the first major activity organised by the new Office, it is fitting that the Symposium's theme is Intellectual Property for Development, given W-I-P-O's commitment to making IP a powerful economic development tool. From the programme, I note that a number of eminent speakers will be sharing their views on key issues of interest such as effective IP strategies for national development, balancing competing priorities in IP policy and the new business role of IP offices in the 21st century.
11 This Symposium presents an excellent opportunity for member countries in both developed and developing countries to share their experiences and exchange views on the relationship between IP and development goals. While I am sure that the insights shared through this dialogue will prove enriching and valuable to all participants, we should not allow this exchange to stop here. Indeed, I understand that W-I-P-O has already mapped out a full agenda of activities for this year. Please continue to support its activities.
Conclusion
12 Let me end by wishing all delegates a fruitful exchange at the Symposium and by extending, once again, my heartiest congratulations to W-I-P-O on the official inauguration of its Singapore Office.
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