Intervention by India on WIPO External Offices under Agenda item 5 during the discussion on Strategic Goal VIII of the Proposed Program and Budget for 2016/17 biennium at the 23rd session of WIPO Program & Budget Committee. ( 13-17 July 2015 ) Intervention by India on WIPO External Offices under Agenda item 5 during the discussion on Strategi..
  • Home > STATEMENTS > Intervention by India on WIPO External Offices under Agenda item 5 during the discussion on Strategic Goal VIII of the Proposed Program and Budget for 2016/17 biennium at the 23rd session of WIPO Program & Budget Committee. ( 13-17 July 2015 )

Intervention by India on WIPO External Offices under Agenda item 5 during the discussion on Strategic Goal VIII of the
Proposed Program and Budget for 2016/17  biennium
at the 23rd session of WIPO Program & Budget Committee

 

 

Thank you Mr Chairman,

Since I m taking the floor for the first time in this meeting, I would like to express the confidence of my delegation in your able leadership of this Committee.  At a personal level I am happy to see you chairing this meeting as I had the chance meeting you several times during my previous assignment when I was in Colombia and you were the Vice Minister of Commerce.  I’d also thank the WIPO Secretariat for their hard work in producing the documents for this session and also the proposed Program and Budget document. We’d like to put on record our appreciation for ADG Chief of Staff’s exposition of Program 20 and would also request a copy of the same for our study.

 

The discussions on the opening up of new External Offices of WIPO has gone far too long and at times mired in unsubstantiated apprehensions of their impact on the Organization. We also heard frequently both in the PBC and also during the discussions prior to two consecutive General Assemblies unreasonable trepidation about the impact of opening an External Offices in a country on WIPO’s  bilateral activities with other countries in the same region.

 

We have consistently acknowledged that the existing External Offices coverage is limited.  The Opening of a new External Offices can be a win-win proposition for those countries that already put in place an enabling environment for enhancing innovation and creativity, or in other instances countries wish toget direct support from WIPO through technical assistance and capacity building to evolve national IP policies and the relevant IP infrastructure.

 

New External Offices  are expected to be used as nodal points where technical experts are pooled and stationed for rapid delivery of services and on-site interventions.  The presence of locally recruited experts should also contribute to effective transfer of knowledge, and enhancement of mutual support through creation of regional networks.

 

We should also take into account the interest of different geographical regions as well as other factors such as balancing the need and demand on account of population, size of economy and growth in IP filings. Geographical distribution is particularly important to the delivery of WIPO’s services for technical assistance and capacity building.

 

India has also expressed its interest in opening of an External Office of WIPO in India.It is our desire see a decision on an External Office in India during the next biennium 2016/2017.

 

Our delegation is willing to work constructively with all groups and delegations to reach a consensus on the procedure and establishing criteria for opening up of new External offices of WIPO.

 

India proposes that the PBC  may consider expansion of the budget of the program, in line with the great interest expressed by the member countries on the issue of opening new External Offices.

De Nuevo muchas Gracias Sr. President por esta opportunidad.
( Spanish : thank you once again Mr. President for this opportunity )