On December 12th, 2019, the 59th ordinary session of the Administrative Council of the African Intellectual Property Organization (OAPI) was held in Ndjamena, Republic of Chad, with the participation of the delegation of the Eurasian Patent Office (EAPO).

The meeting, chaired by the Republic of Chad, was attended by members of the host government, delegations of OAPI member states, heads and representatives of the World Health Organization (WHO), the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO), the International Trademark Association (INTA), the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV), IP offices of Singapore, Morocco, China, and France.

Saule Tlevlessova with the participants of the OAPI Administrative Council. On the left: Denis Bohoussou (OAPI Director General) and Ms Achta Djibrine Sy (President of the OAPI Administrative Council)

EAPO President made a welcome speech at the opening of the session. Paying attention of the delegates and distinguished guests to the similarity of tasks faced by the countries and regions of the world in the field of intellectual property, Saule Tlevlessova emphasized the role of regional organizations in overcoming the global challenges of modernity.

Saule Tlevlessova appreciated the development of cooperation with OAPI, which was boosted by the Memorandum of Understanding on bilateral cooperation signed in October this year in Geneva.

Such cooperation will be carried out in the field of patent information exchange, patent examination practice, including industrial designs, patent information processing, patent services, as well as implementation of joint educational programs.

EAPO President appealed to OAPI for closer interaction, focusing on the importance of mutual support of the two organizations, which have a regional character of cooperation.