NAIROBI, June 5 (Xinhua) -- The second edition of the International Symposium on Intellectual Property, Protection, and Enforcement (ISIPPE-2) opened in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital, to promote cooperation in intellectual property (IP) across the world.
The two-day conference is being held under the theme "Uniting Against Counterfeiting for a Healthy and Safe Future," bringing together delegates from more than 120 countries composed of senior government officials and international law enforcement agencies to highlight the importance of safeguarding IP rights for economic growth and public safety across the globe.
Robi Mbugua Njoroge, executive director of the Anti-Counterfeit Authority (ACA), said in his opening remarks that the conference is a crucial platform for uniting efforts against the global menace of infringement of IP rights such as trademarks, trade secrets, patents and copyrights.
"By bringing together diverse perspectives and expertise, we can create effective solutions to protect intellectual property, which is vital for innovation, economic growth, and public health," Njoroge said.
He noted that Kenya is currently collaborating with the United Nations' World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in formulating a comprehensive national IP policy and strategy to support innovation and competitiveness.
Edward Kwakwa, assistant director-general of the Global Challenges and Partnerships Sector at WIPO, said that the conference was an avenue for stakeholders to explore collaborative strategies and share best practices to enhance IP enforcement.
Kwakwa also emphasized the need for cross-border cooperation among national authorities and the private sector to combat counterfeiting and piracy.
Guiqiu Xie, a criminal intelligence officer in the public health and pharmaceutical crimes unit at the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol), stated that e-commerce platforms have emerged as breeding grounds for the trade of counterfeit products due to rising popularity.
Xie added that strong intellectual property enforcement is essential to enhance consumer safety and protection of the public from the dangers of counterfeit goods. ■