DJIBOUTI IS DRAFTING A SPECIAL LAW

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DJIBOUTI 000392 SIPDIS STATE FOR AF AND AF/E LONDON, PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV ECON EIND EINV DJ SUBJECT: DJIBOUTI IS DRAFTING A SPECIAL LAW FOR INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS ¶1. SUMMARY. With the assistance of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO),the Government of Djibouti (GoD) has initiated a project on Intellectual Property Rights (IPR),including a special law on IPR and an implementing office. This endeavor is expected to boost confidence levels of potential foreign investors in Djibouti. END SUMMARY. ¶2. A three-day national workshop on Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) was held March 6 in Djibouti, hosted by Rifki Abdoulkader Bamakhrama, Minister of Trade and Industry. The seminar was conducted by a team from the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) headed by Ms. Nahla Haidar, Director of the Office of Economic Development for Arab countries. The Minister of Culture, the President of the Chamber of Commerce, Embassy and international organizations representatives attended the opening ceremony. ¶3. In his opening speech, the Minister of Trade and Industry emphasized the importance of implementing WIPO rules to promote economic growth for the country. The Minister added that the GoD was committed to create a healthy and efficient environment in order to reinforce the constitutional state. ¶4. The WIPO team leader stressed that IPR is crucial for the social, economic and cultural development of a country. Also, Djibouti's adoption of IPR laws will create a legal framework and favorable environment for national and foreign investment. In addition, WIPO was here to renew its cooperation with the GoD. WIPO assured Djibouti that its experts would accompany them through all their efforts in IPR related issues and will assist with action plans sized for Djibouti. ¶5. Participants including lawyers, business owners, artists and inventors were introduced to the various concepts on IPR during the first two days of the workshop. Each presentation focused on a given topic and was followed by discussion and debate chaired by WIPO experts. The last day was dedicated to the presentation of the IPR project, which consisted of the creation of an IPR law taking into consideration Djibouti specifics, and the establishment of a local institution under the Ministry of Trade and Industry, in charge of IPR. ¶6. During the workshop, staff of the Ministry of Trade & Industry and WIPO experts formed a local committee responsible for drafting a law on IPR. This committee, comprised of government staff, business community and members of the civil society was then divided into four groups tasked with discussing four different themes associated to IPR. The committee was given one month to come up with a draft law. ¶7. At the conclusion of the three day seminar, the following priorities were noted: examining the draft law in a timely manner; creating an office to manage IPR related issues; training of the staff of the IPR office; supplying the office with computer equipment; increasing partnership between the GoD and the WIPO; initiating awareness programs for the people involved in IPR; and starting partnership with Djibouti's University, Science Research Center (CERD) and Education Research Center (CRIPEN) in order to incorporate and teach IPR in these institutions. ¶8. COMMENT: Djibouti's Civil Code, created in 1995 uses the French Civil Code as primary reference. Thus, Djiboutian laws already provide enough IPR protection for the needs of a small country like Djibouti. By creating a special law on IPR and setting up an implementing institution, Djibouti expects to attract foreign investors by offering them a reliable legal framework on IPR, especially in view of the planned Free Zone in Doraleh. ¶9. Abdourahman Youssouf, IPR Unit Chief at the Ministry of Trade and Industry participated in the Academy on the Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights in February 2006 held at Alexandria by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Youssouf, one of the main organizers of the IPR workshop is expected to head the planned office of IPR. Once it becomes operational, the office of IPR will also handle business registration, which is currently done at the Commercial Court. END COMMENT