International Conference “Georgia Against Counterfeiting in the Context of DCFTA” brings to Georgia best practice in enforcement of intellectual property rights
August 01, 2016
Batumi, 1 August 2016 – an international conference on European and international standards and experiences in enforcement of intellectual property rights (IPR) opened in Batumi today.
The event is a useful platform for the private sector to learn about recent developments in the area of IPR protection and current challenges that are being addressed in the context of the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) with the European Union (EU). Particular attention is paid to promoting active engagement of representatives of Georgian small and medium enterprises (SMEs) who attend the conference in protection of intellectual property rights.
Genadi Arveladze, Deputy Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia opened the conference and welcomed participants. He was followed by Nikoloz Gogilidze, Chairman of Sakpatenti, who stressed importance of the forum as a platform for public awareness building on the issues pertaining to the area of IP protection and enforcement in Georgia.
Carlo Natale, Deputy Head of the EU Delegation to Georgia in his opening remarks welcomed the initiative to further strengthen protection and enforcement of IPR in Georgia.
National Intellectual Property Centre of Georgia - Sakpatenti and GCCI will sign a memorandum on cooperation, which will provide framework for implementation of joint projects. Sakpatenti will participate in GCCI’s outreach events aimed at promoting DCFTA among Georgian entrepreneurs.
During the two-day conference representatives from the Cooperation with Business Action to Stop Counterfeiting and Piracy (BASCAP, ICC), World Customs Organization (WCO), EUROPOL, also from Romania, Italy, United States, China and others will showcase best practices in the fight against counterfeiting and share cases of successful IPR enforcement.
The conference is organized by Sakpatenti and the SME Development and DCFTA in Georgia project at Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH with funding from the European Union Programme EU4Business.
Georgian National Committee of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC Georgia) and Georgian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) are organizing partners of the conference, who supported event by ensuring participation of member SMEs.
