Agreement to Start the Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) with the Ministry of Industry and Commerce of the Kingdom of Bahrain

September 22, 2025

On September 19, 2025, Prime Minister ISHIBA held a summit meeting with His Royal Highness Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Bahrain, who was visiting Japan.

On the same day, under the witness of both leaders, Commissioner KASAI of the Japan Patent Office (JPO) signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) regarding the bilateral Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) with the Ministry of Industry and Commerce of the Kingdom of Bahrain and agreed to start the PPH on January 1, 2026.

The JPO will take this opportunity to cooperate with the Ministry of Industry and Commerce of the Kingdom of Bahrain through the sharing and utilization of patent examination results, working towards an efficient patent examination process, and striving to create an environment where the intellectual property of Japanese companies is secured quickly and accurately in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

*News Release : "Meeting and Working Dinner between Prime Minister ISHIBA and His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Bahrain" (external link)

[Last updated 22 September 2025]