H.E. Dr. Rania A. Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation, met with Dr. Hisham Azmy on Head of the Egyptian Intellectual Property Authority, to discuss ways of joint cooperation and the Ministry’s support in implementing the National Intellectual Property Strategy.

At the beginning of the meeting, H.E. Minister Al-Mashat welcomed the Head of the Egyptian Intellectual Property Authority, emphasizing the importance the Egyptian state places on protecting intellectual property. This importance was solidified with the approval of H.E. President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi’s decree establishing the Egyptian Intellectual Property Authority, given its pivotal role in achieving economic, social, and cultural development and building a knowledge-based economy.

The meeting touched on the Ministry’s support for the Egyptian Intellectual Property Authority in implementing the National Intellectual Property Strategy through international cooperation, leveraging the expertise of development partners. In this context, the discussion included a project to develop the intellectual property automation system in the Egyptian Patent Office, funded by a Korean grant, and ways to benefit from it in light of the expanded responsibilities of the Authority.

H.E. Dr. Rania Al-Mashat emphasized the importance of the project in supporting innovation and enhancing the business environment in Egypt. She also noted that it would contribute to accelerating the patent registration process and facilitate access to intellectual property-related information.

The Minister reviewed the Ministerial Group for Entrepreneurship and its role in enhancing the environment for startups. She highlighted the ongoing efforts to prepare a startup charter, pointing out the role the Egyptian Intellectual Property Authority can play in providing awareness programs for startups about intellectual property.

The Minister added that entrepreneurship and intellectual property are key pillars for achieving economic development. It is essential to provide a supportive environment that fosters innovation and contributes to achieving national goals. Protecting intellectual property is a vital element in supporting innovation, and she stressed the need to work on developing legislation and policies that ensure the protection of innovators' rights and enhance their competitiveness.

The meeting also highlighted the proposed projects to be implemented by the Egyptian Intellectual Property Authority, which aim to develop critical infrastructure and enhance the operational capacity of the Authority. The importance of these projects in achieving the Authority's strategic goals and supporting innovation was emphasized, with a focus on enhancing performance efficiency and delivering distinguished services.

It is worth noting that H.E. President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi issued a decree in 2023 to establish the Egyptian Intellectual Property Authority as a public body responsible for organizing, overseeing, and protecting intellectual property rights in the country. This aligns with Egypt's international commitments and aims to leverage the intellectual property system in a way that balances the protection of these rights with the achievement of economic, social, cultural, and technological development, as well as the building of a knowledge-based economy.