Minister opens Intellectual Property Webinar
May 14, 2021
A webinar on Intellectual Property got under way on the afternoon of Thursday 13th May.
The webinar is being organised to mark World Intellectual Property Day which is celebrated every year on the 26th April.
The event is organized by the Trade Department, Registration Division in collaboration with the US Embassy in Mauritius.
Some thirty participants, from different government organisations and the private sector, registered for the webinar, which is targeting small and medium business entrepreneurs.
The Minister for Finance, Economic Planning and Trade, Naadir Hassan officially opened the webinar, which is being held under the theme ‘Intellectual Property Rights and SMEs: Learn About Why IP Matters for Your Business.’
He focused his address on the importance for the small and medium enterprises in Seychelles to spearhead the government’s vision to diversify the economy, especially, at this juncture where the COVID-19 pandemic has proven that over-reliance on one economic sector is detrimental to the country.
“We have seen how the pandemic has accentuated the need for more innovations in the business environment, moving away from the traditional way of doing business and fueling diversification.”
He said the government is creating the right environment to allow businesses to grow, not only on the local market but growing beyond our borders, thus it is important for local businesses to register and protect their innovations, creativity and ideas.
“I am convinced that through the development and continuous awareness on the importance and benefits available through Intellectual Property rights, we will surely empower more businesses to be more innovative for the betterment of their businesses and the country’s economic development.”
The Department of Trade is responsible to produce policy on Intellectual Property, registrations however, are done at the Office of Registration, Independence House.
The webinar which kick started on Thursday afternoon, continued on Friday afternoon.
