The 65th Series of Meetings of the Annual Assemblies of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) will be held from 9 to 17 July 2024, in Geneva, Switzerland, an event that brings together over 1,400 delegates from the 193 WIPO Member States, international and regional organizations, ambassadors, ministers, etc. This year, the Republic of Moldova holds the role of coordinator of the Central European and Baltic States (CEBS) Regional Group within WIPO.

At the opening session of the Annual Assemblies of WIPO Member States, Alfredo Suescum Alfaro, Ambassador, Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission to the World Trade Organization (WTO), Geneva, in his capacity as President of the General Assemblies, expressed his gratitude to all those involved in organizing this series and reiterated his commitment to contribute to the success of the meeting. In the current context, he stressed the importance of international cooperation and the promotion of intellectual property.

In his opening speech, WIPO Director General Daren Tang thanked the representatives of Member States for their presence and stressed the importance of teamwork in growing a global intellectual property ecosystem. Likewise, in his report, the WIPO Director General presented the significant achievements of the organization in the recent period, highlighting the trend of increasing the number of applications for registration of IP rights, which has tripled over the past 15 years. He also recalled the recent adoption by WIPO Member States of the historic treaty on intellectual property, genetic resources and traditional knowledge associated with genetic resources, marking substantial progress after decades of negotiations. At the same time, Daren Tang conveyed messages of appreciation, encouragement and determination to the international audience, underlining the importance of WIPO in promoting and developing the global intellectual property system. Vladimir Cuc, Ambassador of the Republic of Moldova to the Swiss Confederation, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Moldova to the UN Office in Geneva and other International Organizations based in Geneva, in his country statement made at the beginning of the Assemblies, informed the Member States that two weeks ago the Republic of Moldova and the European Union opened accession negotiations. The representative of the Republic of Moldova also wanted to inform the high forum about some of our country’s achievements in the field of intellectual property: the ratification of the Geneva Act of the Lisbon Agreement on Appellations of Origin and Geographical Indications, as well as the recent designation by WIPO of Oxana Zaporoniuc as the IP Youth Ambassador in the Republic of Moldova.

The Moldovan official expressed his appreciation for the expertise provided by AGEPI in aligning national legislation with international standards, and thanked for the support provided in organizing jointly organized international events, thus contributing to the development and consolidation of our country’s intellectual property system.

During the current series of meetings, representatives of WIPO Member States will address and make decisions on resolving the issues facing the intellectual property system at the current stage, such as implementing the organization’s development programs, ensuring compliance with the treaties and conventions administered by WIPO, and approving documents essential for the organization’s functioning.

In addition to the consolidated agenda of the WIPO Assemblies, the AGEPI delegation, led by the Director General Eugeniu Rusu, has planned, during 10-11 July this year, a series of bilateral meetings with high-ranking officials, including WIPO Director General Daren Tang and the Executive Director of the European Union Intellectual Property Office João Negrão, as well as with delegations of member states present at the meeting.

Active participation in the 65th Series of Meetings of the Assemblies of the Member States of WIPO will allow the Republic of Moldova to further strengthen its position in the international community and contribute to the promotion and development of the intellectual property system.