Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06DJIBOUTI392
2006-03-27 14:20:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Djibouti
Cable title:
DJIBOUTI IS DRAFTING A SPECIAL LAW
how-toThis record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
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
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
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