Africa-Press – Botswana. It is essential to continue to harness and protect a wealth of creativity, innovation and diverse cultural expressions that the African continent boast, through strong intellectual property (IP) systems.
Delivering a keynote address November 20, during the opening ceremony of the 47th Session of the Administrative Council of the African Regional Intellectual Property Organisation (ARIPO), the Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr Mmusi Kgafela said having strong IP systems would encourage growth and development in the African continent.
The Minister said since early 2000s, Botswana had and continued to develop and strengthen its IP system, adding that the country had enacted and implemented the Copyright and Neighbouring Rights and the Industrial Property Acts.
“We are now in the process of reviewing these laws to close gaps. These gaps include, but are not limited to, addressing some questions raised by technology and also that our legislation may allow for the use of technology to offer IP services,” he added.
To ensure that the IP office was capacitated to implement the law, he said government further invested resources to develop IP skills.
In Botswana, Minister Kgafela said in February of 2022, members of the 12th Parliament approved the first ever Botswana National Intellectual Property Policy, which was subsequently launched by President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi.
“The President has taken keen interest in IP, therefore we see immense interest in IP growing across sectors of the economy. We do acknowledge that we still have a long way to go as a country.
However, we are proud of what we have achieved so far,” he added. He, therefore, acknowledged the contribution of ARIPO towards Botswana’s IP successes, as well as the organisation’s significant strides in fostering regional cooperation and harmonising intellectual property laws across its member states.
He said due to the decisions that the respective governing bodies of ARIPO take, the organisation had been able to contribute and support its member states.
“I believe that you all agree with me that the individual member states have benefited from ARIPO and can also attest that they too have experienced the benefit that Botswana has,” the minister said.
For that reason, Mr Kgafela encouraged the Administrative Council to jealously guard ARIPO and its objectives, and also ensure that it continued to be a point of reference whenever IP issues were discussed for Africa, stressing that it was only when ARIPO was kept protected that member states could continue reaping its benefits.
To further protect ARIPO, he said there was need for the administrative council, being the overseer of the secretariat, and an advisor of the Council of Ministers, to continuously uphold good governance.
He said the council should take the position of a gatekeeper of good governance and accountability, emphasising that governance could either make or break an institution.
Further, Mr Kgafela expressed delight that Botswana and other ARIPO member states were actively involved in the negotiations, calling for fruitful engagements for a better Africa that mirrored and rode on the successes of legacy institutions such as ARIPO.
The session also attracted other players in the IP arena and potential member states, which the minister said was clear evidence that ARIPO harnessed partnerships required for member states to achieve their mandates.
He also acknowledged the role played by the World Intellectual Property Organisation in shaping the global IP environment, which included ARIPO member states and encouraged potential members to consider joining ARIPO for their benefit and to contribute to the IP development and growth in the region.
For his remarks, the outgoing ARIPO Administrative Council chairperson, Mr Willie Mushayi commended Botswana for its commitment in the improvement of IP systems, both locally and regionally, in line with global standards.
Mr Mushayi, who is also Zimbabwe’s Companies and IP chief registrar, expressed gratitude and honour to Minister Kgafela and his government for the political support and hospitality.
“This is a testimony to us that you value IP, personally, and also as a government.’
He also thanked CIPA Registrar general and the secretariat for organising the event, as well as to ARIPO and members of the Administrative Council for the trust and support he enjoyed during his tenure.
“Trust, amongst peers, is never taken for granted. I’ve learnt a lot and I continue to learn. I believe we did well and I’ll take this opportunity also to reflect on some of those milestones. We experienced notable growth and we continue to aspire to grow and to expand across Africa and maybe beyond, I don’t know,” he said.
He said with regards to the council’s financial and political status, ‘we are strong and we are getting stronger and stronger on a daily basis and I believe it is to do with the level of collaboration to ensure that we do not leave any of our member states behind.’
The four-day session is hosted by Botswana, through the Companies and Intellectual Property Authority (CIPA) from November 20-23.
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