Active cooperation with Africa reaffirmed during the Administrative Council of ARIPO

November 13, 2024

Mr. YASUDA Futoshi, Deputy Commissioner of the Japan Patent Office (JPO), participated in the 48th session of the Administrative Council^*1 of the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO)^*2 held in Maseru, Lesotho from October 28 to November 1, 2024.

During the opening ceremony, Mr. Yasuda expressed his belief that in order to solve today's social problems and promote economic development, it is important to properly protect new innovations through the intellectual property system, as well as to create an environment wherein intellectual property rights can be utilized. In addition, he expressed his commitment to continue working with ARIPO to strengthen the foundation of the intellectual property system in Africa.

The JPO will continue to develop and improve an environment wherein the IP rights of companies are promptly and smoothly secured and then appropriately protected in Africa. To do so, we will continue promoting cooperation with the IP Offices in African countries.

*1 The Administrative Council is a body in which the heads of the IP offices in ARIPO member countries gather to discuss ARIPO’s action plans and policies.

*2 ARIPO is a regional intellectual property organization comprising 22 mainly English-speaking member countries.

Deputy Commissioner Yasuda delivering a speech

[Last updated 13 November 2024]