Active cooperation with Africa reaffirmed during the Administrative Council of OAPI

December 17, 2025

Mr. YASUDA Futoshi, Deputy Commissioner of the Japan Patent Office (JPO), participated in the 65th session of the Administrative Council^*1 of the African Intellectual Property Organization (OAPI)^*2, which was held in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo, from December 11 to 12, 2025.

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 OAPI to strengthen the foundation of the intellectual property system in Africa.

Mr. YASUDA held a bilateral meeting with the head of OAPI while attending the council, during which he confirmed the JPO’s continued cooperation with African countries in the field of intellectual property. This cooperation is achieved through support utilizing the Funds-in-Trust Japan Industrial Property Global—a voluntary contribution made by the JPO to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)—as well as through human resource development initiatives such as training invitation programs.

• *1 The Administrative Council is a body wherein the heads of the IP offices in OAPI member countries gather to discuss OAPI’s action plans and policies. The JPO is also invited every year as a cooperative partner of OAPI.
• *2 OAPI is a regional IP organization comprising 17 mainly French-speaking member countries.
   

Bilateral Meeting with OAPI
(Second from left: Mr. Bohoussou; third from left: Mr. YASUDA)

[Last updated 17 December 2025]