Botswana to host 2023 ARIPO Governing Bodies Sessions

Botswana, through Companies and Intellectual Property Authority (CIPA), hosts the 47th sessions of the Administrative Council and the 19th Session of the Council of Ministers of the African Regional Intellectual Property Organisation (ARIPO). The Administrative Council, comprising heads of Intellectual Property offices of ARIPO Member States, will convene from November 20-23, 2023. The Administrative Council will be followed by the Council of Ministers from November 24-25, 2023, which is the highest decision-making organ of ARIPO and comprises ministers responsible for Intellectual Property in the 22 member-states of ARIPO. Botswana will be announced as the new chair of the organisation’s governing bodies at both sessions, taking over from the Republic of Zimbabwe. President Mokgweetsi Masisi will deliver the keynote address at the opening of the 19th Session of the Council of Ministers on November 24. The President is a keen advocate for the utilisation of IP for development and is expected to address the ministers on promoting the use and protection of IP in their respective countries, so that Africa, through ARIPO continues to strive to use IP for economic growth and development. The event will bring together 22 ministers, 22 heads of intellectual property offices, senior government officials, intellectual property agents and industry experts from ARIPO member and observer states as well as other international organisations. Over 100 international visitors are expected for the weeklong event, whose objective is to review the operations of the Secretariat and deliberate on strategic and policy matters that affect the advancement of intellectual property in the African region.