“True to its vision and commitments, Morocco will continue to work toward a modern, fair, and inclusive IP system that guarantees innovation, protects creators, and stimulates growth,” said Minister of Youth, Culture and Communication, Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid, delivering Morocco’s statement at the opening of the 66th series of Meetings of the Assemblies of the Member States of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), held from July 8 to 17.
According to the minister, such a system should also play an active role in combating piracy and counterfeiting to foster a “safe and dynamic” business environment at the national, continental, and global levels.
He also praised the leadership of WIPO Director General Daren Tang, highlighting the significant progress achieved under his tenure, particularly the adoption in 2024 of two major treaties, despite a multilateral context marked by numerous tensions.
Bensaid welcomed the recent signing of a cooperation memorandum of understanding between Morocco and WIPO, describing it as “a new strategic milestone” in their bilateral partnership that will help strengthen national capacities, promote creativity, and support public policies on IP.
He underscored Morocco’s national strategy to promote intellectual property, spearheaded by the Moroccan Office of Industrial and Commercial Property (OMPIC), through an ambitious and multidimensional 2022–2026 roadmap, fully aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The minister recalled that 2024 marked a major turning point in Morocco’s achievements and progress in the IP field. “The figures speak for themselves: trademarks up 14%, designs and models up 26%, and patents up 4%,” he noted.
In the area of copyright, Bensaid affirmed that Morocco continues to implement its revised legislation, notably through the enforcement of decrees on resale rights and reprography in partnership with WIPO.
The minister also stressed the crucial importance of South-South and interregional cooperation in strengthening the capacities of developing countries, praising joint projects carried out with WIPO, such as WIPO-CONNECT, the promotion of thuja wood in Essaouira, and the gastronomic tourism program.
Editorial team/le7tv