The World Trade Organisation’s Intellectual Property Rights experts, Raymondo Valdes (left), and Pierre Arhel (second left), with Mohamed Al Shawi of Customs Authority (second right) and Dr Mohamed Salem of Qatar University, at a panel discussion during the workshop at the Sheraton Hotel in Doha yesterday. Salim Matramkot
DOHA: Qatar is reviewing its trade policy in accordance with the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and it would be disclosed at the WTO event to be held from April 22 to 24, said the Assistant Undersecretary for Commercial Affairs at the Ministry of Economy and Commerce, Meera Al Attiyah, here yesterday.
Meera Al Attiyah was attending a national workshop on WTO Agreement on TRIPS (Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights) in Doha.
He said the government is also preparing for the ninth ministerial conference of WTO from December 3 to 6 in Bali. Qatar is trying to strike a balance among member countries of their ambitions and needs to make Doha talks successful.
While talking to The Peninsula, Counsellor, Intellectual Property Division of WTO, Pierre Arhel, said Qatar has already a lot of legislations and regulations in place to comply with the international standards of TRIPS agreement.
He said the main focus of the workshop is to provide knowledge of the flexibility and minimum standard of adherence to the agreement for the member countries.
Arhel also said that the WTO is here to update the agreement according to the IPR regime in Qatar. He explained the overview of the WTO systems and TRIPS agreement as well as its economic, social and political considerations in the workshop.
Mohamed Al Shawi of the Customs Authority spoke on the execution of the IPR in Qatar and Dr Mohamed Salem of Qatar University gave an overview of the IPR in the country. A group of experts from the government will work closely with the international trade experts and WTO officials to create awareness among the business community on how to protect the intellectual property rights in the country. The Peninsula
