National Intellectual Property Strategy under finalisation

The Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Investment Promotion partnered with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the Omani Intellectual Property Association in the organisation of a significant workshop titled, ‘High-level Dialogue between the Sultanate of Oman and WIPO’. This two-day event, held at the Intercity Hotel in Muscat, aims to explore and enhance Oman’s intellectual property system while fostering collaboration with WIPO.

Eng Khalid al Hinai, Director of the National Intellectual Property Office at the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Investment Promotion, said steps are being taken to complete the national strategy for intellectual property. This strategy is built upon several key pillars, including intellectual property management, the generation of intellectual property assets, awareness and training, and the enforcement of intellectual property rights. There is also an initiative to support inventors and creators from society, individuals, and institutions.

Dr Sherif Saadallah (pictured), Director of the WIPO Academy at the World Intellectual Property Organisation, emphasised the importance of this dialogue to review the cooperation between the Sultanate of Oman and WIPO. This event marks the first of its kind, organised at the organisational level with a country.

The forum will review various areas of cooperation, including the modernization of the intellectual property office in the Ministry of Commerce, collaboration to protect Omani frankincense, cooperation with the Omani judiciary, and Sultan Qaboos University. Approximately 17 government agencies and supporting associations are involved in these cooperative efforts, leading to the adoption of many new projects between Oman and WIPO.

Key topics on the agenda include the establishment of a national training center specialising in intellectual property, the functioning of intellectual property offices, and the identification of opportunities and challenges in this field. One of the primary focuses will be reviewing the cooperative projects between WIPO and Oman. These projects involve the allocation of training materials, specialised training programs for diplomats and commercial officials, evaluation of intellectual property master's programmes, collaboration in higher education and summer schools, as well as initiatives implemented by WIPO to promote job creation and intellectual property assets among member states.

Furthermore, the workshop will delve into the development of creative industries, the establishment of a national register to protect folklore and cultural expressions, and strategies to support innovation and technology transfer. By facilitating this dialogue, the organisers anticipate generating valuable recommendations to further strengthen Oman's intellectual property landscape and position it as a key driver of innovation.