The State of Kuwait Embraces, during the period 25-27 of March, a series of economic meetings attended by Intellectual property experts, lawyers and industry people. These meetings are held at the Kuwait Chamber of Commerce and Industry Headquarters. The Kuwaiti Industry and Trade Minister, Abdel Wahab Al-Wazzan, will open these meetings. The first day will start with a meeting of the General Assembly of Licensing Executives Society-Arab Countries (LES-AC), followed directly by LES-AC's Board of Directors meeting.
Mr. Habib Anton, Director of Talal Abu-Ghazaleh & Co. International (TAGI) in Kuwait, and the meeting’s coordinator, explained that there are vital topics to be discussed at the meetings of LES-AC’s General Assembly, particularly the Arab law for technology transfer. This law was created by a committee of experts from LES-AC, and it includes texts that guide the Arab governments in the process of preparing laws on the transfer of technology and excellence rights. The law also highlights the protection of the rights and interests of Arab. Arabs are often importers of technology; therefore, increasing awareness among negotiators when signing deals will protect them and enhance their ability to bargain.
Mr. Anton also announced that the meetings’ agenda is full with other themes under discussion such as the vocational qualification program, the study of the licenses conditions in Arab countries, the study of a technique for the commercial exploitation of an invention, materials for Arab laws, LES-AC’s courses and seminars in 2000,in addition to a number of financial and administrative issues.
He added that one of the many vital topics on the agenda is the issue of electronic signature while LES-AC formed a committee, headed by Mr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh, entitled as “The E-Signature Committee”. The function of this committee is suggesting legislative proposals which can be presented to the Arab governments to guide them in dealing with e-commerce and can be useful for official and private bodies in Arab countries.
These meetings coincide with a symposium, held by LES-AC in cooperation with the Kuwait Society of Engineers and the Arab Society for Intellectual Property (ASIP), on the licensing principles and technology transfer. Dr. Heinz Guddar, President of the Licensing Executives Society International (LESI), and Mr. Willy Manfroy, Trustee of LESI, will lecture in this symposium and will tackle the most important principles and experiences in the world of licensing and technology transfer to open prospects of development and prosperity for the Arab countries.
On the 27th of March, the annual meetings of the General Assembly and of ASIP’s Board of Directors, will be held under the presence and participation of the leaders of intellectual property in most Arab states.
Among the most prominent topics on the agenda is discussing the steps taken to declare the creation of the Arab Council for the Development of Creativity ,which its foundation is scheduled to be announced during the Second International Arab Conference on Intellectual Property to be held in November 2000 in the United Arab Emirates.
ASIP’s Board of Directors will discuss the accomplished stages to approve the qualification program, and it seeks to implement this program in the Arab countries and grant an "intellectual property" certificate. The qualification program is ambitious and contributes to the preparation of a generation of Arab experts in all areas of intellectual property. For this purpose it was decided to form of a supreme council for exams including representatives from the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the Arab Society for the Protection of Intellectual Property (ASPIP), and Arab and foreign experts specialists in this area. The curriculum is being reviewed by a group of Arabs legal advisers, noting that Mr. Hamid Mamdouh, Deputy Chair of the WTO, will attend the meeting of the Board of Directors to participate as a Board of Directors member and representing the WTO, which contributes to the activities of the Society and supports its efforts.
It is noteworthy that Mr. Mohammad Asfour, President of the International Chamber of Commerce-Jordan and the former Minister of Trade and Industry had been elected as a board member representing the Chamber.