On July 22 to 24, 2009 a Regional Seminar "Automation of a Modern Patent Office and Electronic Filing" took place in Dushanbe, Republic of Tajikistan. The Seminar was organized by the National Center for Patents and Information under the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of the Republic of Tajikistan (NPI Center), the Eurasian Patent Office (EAPO) and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).

Representatives of national patent offices of the Azerbaijan Republic, Republic of Armenia, Republic of Belarus, Republic of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Republic of Moldova, Russian Federation, Republic of Tajikistan, Ukraine, WIPO and EAPO participated in the Seminar. Representatives of the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of the Republic of Tajikistan were present. The EAPO Delegation was headed by the EAPO Vice-President Kh.F.Fayazov.

Director of the NPI Center Sh.Z.Nazhmudinov, EAPO Vice-President Kh.F.Fayazov and Senior Legal Counsellor of the Division for Cooperation with Certain Countries in Europe and Asia of the World Intellectual Property Organization Serguei Zotine opened the Seminar. Speakers reported on systems of electronic filing and exchange of information, about role of patent information in support of innovations. EAPO Vice-President Kh.F.Fayazov spoke about "New informatization concept at EAPO".

P.I. Dzegelenok, Director, Search and Information Systems, EAPO made a presentation on "Electronic systems for processing, storage and presentation of patent information".

V.P. Trubachev, Principal specialist, Procedure Automation Department, EAPO made a presentation on "System of electronic filing and exchange of information. EAPO experience"

The audience showed lively interest in presentations and reports delivered. The listeners took active part in discussions and asked many questions.

During the Seminar Makhmadali Safarov, the Best Inventor 2008 of the Republic of Tajikistan was awarded with the gold V.I. Blinnikov medal "For the Contribution to Innovation and Patent Promotion".

The official part of the seminar was accompanied by the cultural program with the visit to Romitsky Gorge.