Bangladesh Awami League - PM Sheikh Hasina seeks Bangladesh patent right to genome sequencing of jute

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PM Sheikh Hasina seeks Bangladesh patent right to genome sequencing of jute

July 19,2010

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today sought World International Property Organisation's (WIPO) support for protection of the patent right of genome sequencing of jute decoded by Bangladeshi scientists recently. Describing the recent innovation of decoding genome sequencing of jute as a monumental achievement, she said after the innovation the golden fibre of Bangladesh will now regain its past glory through genetic engineering. The Prime Minister said this while inaugurating the Asia- Pacific Regional forum of the WIPO at Hotel Sonargaon here this morning. With Industries Minister Dilip Barua in the chair, Information Minister Abul Kalam Azad, Foreign Minister Dr Dipu Moni and director general of WIPO Dr Francis Gurry also spoke on the occasion. Referring to phenomenal growth of the country's pharmaceuticals under the existing intellectual property (IP) waiver, she said these high quality pharmaceuticals are being exported to over 70 countries, including many LDCs and those are playing a tremendous role in ensuring primary healthcare in the countries. About intellectual property waiver, which is expected to expire by 2016, Sheikh Hasina requested the WIPO to extend the provision for another 15 years for the interest of the least developed countries (LDCs). The Prime Minister said the Intellectual Property has indeed gained immense importance in today's innovative world and become an effective tool for creating an enabling environment that fosters innovation and harnesses creativity. Laying emphasis on a better understanding of the IP by LDCs, she called for developing appropriate institutions and national capacity to effectively utilize intellectual property for accelerating socio-economic development of the countries. In this context, she said the LDCs also need to learn from successful initiatives of other countries, and share own experiences and practices to this end.

Mentioning climate change action plan adopted by Bangladesh to face the adverse impact of global warming, she said their successful implementation depends much on access to environment friendly technologies. "These technologies should, therefore, be kept outside the IP regime to become affordable for LDCs," she added. The Prime Minister laid emphasis on accelerating implementation of the WIPO Development Agenda by the LDCs as they gain most from the intellectual property regime. Calling upon all countries to realize the WIPO development agenda goals within a soonest possible time, the Prime Minister said effective utilization of intellectual property (IP) would help overcome the challenges in different areas.

"Today, intellectual property goes beyond technical and legal issues and encompasses education, public health, national innovation strategies and climate change mitigation and adaptation. Effective utilization of intellectual property would help overcome the challenges in these areas," she said. Appreciating WIPO's initiative that closely involves the private sector in providing the LDCs with free access to technology information, she said the WIPO needs to scale up its LDC related activities like capacity building, legal, institutional and policy frameworks, knowledge base, reversal of brain drain, and development of sustainable research and development facilities.

The Prime Minister urged the WIPO to promote these and other practical measures for bringing concrete benefits to the LDCs. Sheikh Hasina said her government is working to build a "Digital Bangladesh" and turning it as a middle income country by 2021 through widespread utilization of ICT and giving emphasis to intellectual property issues. In these connections, she said her government is planning to formulate an IP policy aiming at fostering national innovation and creativity in an integrated manner. We are also committed to public-private- partnerships in realizing our objectives, she added.

The Premier said the LDCs emphasis on IP is now more than ever before because of globalization and evolution of technology as technology, innovation and creativity are key factors for productivity improvement and economic growth today. "Unfortunately, the international environment poses more challenge to the LDCs instead of providing opportunities," she said and underscored the need for addressing this gap to achieve Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The Prime Minister sought WIPO support in fostering development, fighting unemployment, alleviating poverty, attaining food security, and facing the impacts of climate change. "I believe the LDCs need to have a common voice in IP related issues in all concerned international forums. We need to emphasize that our demands are not only genuine but also priorities," she said.

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