Minister of State for Industry Dan Bahadur Chaudhari attended the inaugural session of the High Level Forum on "Intellectual Property for the Least Developed Countries: The Strategic Use of Intellectual Property for Prosperity and Development" that began at World Intellectual Property Organization Headquarter in Geneva Thursday.

State Minister Chaudhari is leading a four member Nepalese delegation comprising of Ambassador Dr. Dinesh Bhattarai, Joint Secretary of Ministry of Commerce and Supplies Ganesh Dhakal and Deputy Permanent Representative Mr. Ravi Bhattarai.

According to a statement by the Permanent Mission of Nepal to the United Nations, Geneva, the High Level Forum will focus its deliberations on six themes, namely (i) Integrating Intellectual Property into National Development Policy and Strategies of the LDCs, (ii) The Strategic Importance of Transfer of Technology and Technological Capacity Building for the Development of LDCs, (iii). Sharing of Experience with some LDCs on the Wealth Creation Effect of Trademarks, Service Marks, Geographical Indications and Industrial Designs, (iv) Role and Contribution of Copyright and Related Rights and Collective Management Societies for Economic Growth and Development of LDCs, (V) Traditional Knowledge, Genetic Resources and Traditional Cultural Expressions: Preserving Traditional and Cultural Assets and Creating Wealth, (vi) Regional Cooperation in IP: Promoting Synergies and Building Partnerships.

The Forum will conclude its meeting Friday and will come up with a set of recommendations on these themes.

Minister of State for Industry Chaudhary also attended the luncheon and reception hosted in his honour by Director General Mr. Gurry. Matters of mutual interests and the possibility of providing assistance to further strengthening the Nepal-WIPO cooperation for the development of Intellectual Property in Nepal were discussed. nepalnews.com