WIPO and MoCIIP host key workshop on intellectual property
Published: 02:10 PM,Oct 30,2023 | EDITED : 06:10 PM,Oct 30,2023
Key officials of WIPO and Oman’s Ministry of Commerce addressing the workshop on Intellectual Property on Monday
MUSCAT : In a significant collaboration, the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Investment Promotion (MoCIIP), in partnership with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), has organized an innovative workshop centered on intellectual property and competition protection.
The three-day workshop, which commenced on Monday, October 30, 2023, witnessed the presence of key figures, including Dr Saleh bin Said Masan, Commerce and Industry Under-Secretary at MoCIIP. Zahran bin Salem al Mahrouqi, Director General of the Competition Protection and Monopoly Prevention at MoCIIP, hailed this workshop as a pioneering initiative by WIPO, marking its debut in the Arab region.
The event's core objective is to underscore the critical significance of safeguarding fair competition and preventing monopolistic practices. It aims to leverage international expertise to elevate the knowledge and professional standards of all attendees.
Oman's commitment to regulating economic activities and promoting market principles that ensure price freedom without stifling free competition is exemplified in the enactment of the Competition Protection and Monopoly Prevention Law under Royal Decree 67/2014.
The workshop's comprehensive agenda delves into a wide range of pivotal topics, providing participants with practical insights and actionable takeaways. It taps into WIPO's extensive knowledge base while sharing Egypt's valuable experiences in assessing non-competitive agreements.
The program places a strong emphasis on intellectual property, evaluating market dominance, complaint resolution procedures, and the assessment of economic concentrations. Additionally, it explores the intricate intersection of intellectual property and competition, with specific relevance to the pharmaceutical and digital platform industries. The workshop also sheds light on the enforcement of competition law.
Nasra al Habsi, Assistant General Manager of the Competition Protection and Monopoly Prevention Centre at MoCIIP, detailed the center's overarching objectives and responsibilities. These encompass the regulation of economic activities, the establishment of equitable market rules, and ensuring price freedom without inhibiting fair competition. The center plays a pivotal role in enforcing laws and regulations related to competition protection and monopoly prevention, actively researching harmful competition practices, and managing complaints related to anti-competitive conduct.
Speaking to Observer, Giovanni Napolitano, the Head of the Intellectual Property and Competition Department at WIPO, emphasised the need to initiate discussions on competition and the pivotal role of intellectual property in this context. He underscored the importance of establishing a robust partnership with the Competition Protection and Monopoly Prevention Centre to enhance the competitiveness of local and global businesses operating in the market.
Rana Khoweiled, the Head of the Mergers and Acquisitions Department at the Egyptian Competition Authority, stressed the importance of competition protection and monopoly prevention laws within the broader economy. She highlighted the workshop as a significant part of ongoing cooperation between the Sultanate of Oman and the Arab Republic of Egypt across diverse fields.
Khoweiled provided an in-depth exploration of Egypt's experiences in assessing non-competitive agreements, the utilization of market dominance, and the examination of economic concentrations, including explanations of horizontal and vertical agreements, their components, exemptions, factors influencing their formation, and their practical impact.
The three-day workshop, which commenced on Monday, October 30, 2023, witnessed the presence of key figures, including Dr Saleh bin Said Masan, Commerce and Industry Under-Secretary at MoCIIP. Zahran bin Salem al Mahrouqi, Director General of the Competition Protection and Monopoly Prevention at MoCIIP, hailed this workshop as a pioneering initiative by WIPO, marking its debut in the Arab region.
The event's core objective is to underscore the critical significance of safeguarding fair competition and preventing monopolistic practices. It aims to leverage international expertise to elevate the knowledge and professional standards of all attendees.
Oman's commitment to regulating economic activities and promoting market principles that ensure price freedom without stifling free competition is exemplified in the enactment of the Competition Protection and Monopoly Prevention Law under Royal Decree 67/2014.
The workshop's comprehensive agenda delves into a wide range of pivotal topics, providing participants with practical insights and actionable takeaways. It taps into WIPO's extensive knowledge base while sharing Egypt's valuable experiences in assessing non-competitive agreements.
The program places a strong emphasis on intellectual property, evaluating market dominance, complaint resolution procedures, and the assessment of economic concentrations. Additionally, it explores the intricate intersection of intellectual property and competition, with specific relevance to the pharmaceutical and digital platform industries. The workshop also sheds light on the enforcement of competition law.
Nasra al Habsi, Assistant General Manager of the Competition Protection and Monopoly Prevention Centre at MoCIIP, detailed the center's overarching objectives and responsibilities. These encompass the regulation of economic activities, the establishment of equitable market rules, and ensuring price freedom without inhibiting fair competition. The center plays a pivotal role in enforcing laws and regulations related to competition protection and monopoly prevention, actively researching harmful competition practices, and managing complaints related to anti-competitive conduct.
Speaking to Observer, Giovanni Napolitano, the Head of the Intellectual Property and Competition Department at WIPO, emphasised the need to initiate discussions on competition and the pivotal role of intellectual property in this context. He underscored the importance of establishing a robust partnership with the Competition Protection and Monopoly Prevention Centre to enhance the competitiveness of local and global businesses operating in the market.
Rana Khoweiled, the Head of the Mergers and Acquisitions Department at the Egyptian Competition Authority, stressed the importance of competition protection and monopoly prevention laws within the broader economy. She highlighted the workshop as a significant part of ongoing cooperation between the Sultanate of Oman and the Arab Republic of Egypt across diverse fields.
Khoweiled provided an in-depth exploration of Egypt's experiences in assessing non-competitive agreements, the utilization of market dominance, and the examination of economic concentrations, including explanations of horizontal and vertical agreements, their components, exemptions, factors influencing their formation, and their practical impact.