Oman participates in meeting of WIPO member states’ associations

Geneva: Represented by the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion, the Sultanate of Oman participated in sessions of the 65th meeting of the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) member states’ associations, held in Geneva.

Oman’s delegation was headed by Dr. Saleh Said Masan, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion for Commerce and Industry.

In a speech during the meeting, Masan stressed that the Sultanate of Oman attaches great importance to cooperation with WIPO and has worked closely with WIPO on various projects aimed at consolidating the international organisation’s intellectual property system in the Sultanate of Oman.

“The projects included WIPO’s support for frankincense producers, a project aimed at preserving the quality and reputation of Omani frankincense and raising its marketing value locally and internationally through the application of the intellectual property system as a geographical indicator,” said Masan.

He added that the Sultanate of Oman is working on implementing the project of “National Intellectual Property Strategy” in cooperation with WIPO. “The project seeks to establish a comprehensive framework to enhance innovation and ensure the protection of intellectual property rights in the Sultanate of Oman”, he explained

“WIPO’s Global Innovation Index (GII) serves as one of the main reference indicators of this strategy,” said Masan, noting that the Sultanate of Oman advanced 10 ranks in the GII in 2023, compared to its position in 2022.

Masan also laid emphasis on the significance the “Treaty on Genetic Resources and Related Traditional Knowledge” in the protection of intellectual property rights for precious resources. He valued the support that the WIPO is lending to indigenous peoples and local communities by securing their fair access to benefits arising from the use of such resources.

At the meeting, Masan also read out the following statement:

“The Sultanate of Oman would like to draw the attention of WIPO member states’ associations to the Palestinian people’s suffering caused by the devastating Israeli attacks on Palestinian tangible and intangible heritage. This devastation pervaded the existence of all objects and all human beings whose rights are blatantly violated on a daily basis. The Israeli aggression, which targeted all—men, children, women, health institutions and educational institutions—is unfortunately taking place under the full sight of the international community. No international organisation is taking legal action to hold the perpetrators culpable for these heinous crimes against humanity.”