Addis Ababa, July 9, 2026 (FMC) — Ethiopia has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening the global intellectual property (IP) system, highlighting ongoing legal and economic reforms aimed at fostering innovation, creativity and sustainable development during the 68th Series of Meetings of the Assemblies of the World Intellectual Property Organization.
The meetings, being held in Geneva from July 7 to 15, brought together member states to discuss global intellectual property priorities and cooperation.
Addressing the assembly, Woldu Yemessel Baraki, Director General of the Ethiopian Intellectual Property Authority (EIPA), outlined Ethiopia’s ongoing efforts to modernize its intellectual property framework, advance accession to key international IP treaties, support implementation of the AfCFTA Intellectual Property Protocol, and progress toward membership in the World Trade Organization.
He also congratulated Daren Tang on his re-election for a second term, commending his leadership and continued support for Ethiopia, including his visit to the country last year.
Ethiopia emphasized that intellectual property is a strategic instrument for driving economic transformation, attracting investment, accelerating industrialization, and safeguarding innovation, traditional knowledge and cultural heritage, while reaffirming its commitment to strengthening cooperation with WIPO.
On the sidelines of the assemblies, heads of intellectual property offices from BRICS member countries reviewed recent developments in their respective IP systems and agreed on the agenda for their next meeting, scheduled to be held in India from September 1 to 3, 2026.
Ethiopia participated in the discussions as a BRICS member, reaffirming its commitment to expanding cooperation on intellectual property among the bloc’s member states.