ARIPO and the Organisation Africaine de la Propriété Intellectuelle (OAPI) co-hosted a high-level luncheon for African Ambassadors accredited to the United Nations and other international organizations in Geneva. Held on 11 July 2025 on the margins of the 66th Series of Meetings of the Assemblies of WIPO Member States, the event provided a platform to reinforce Africa’s role in shaping the global intellectual property (IP) agenda and to foster stronger diplomatic and institutional coordination.
The luncheon brought together key stakeholders from Africa’s IP ecosystem, including representatives of 22 ARIPO and 17 OAPI Member States, regional IP organizations, WIPO officials, and diplomatic missions. The objective was to foster deeper synergies between African diplomats and regional IP institutions, thereby strengthening Africa’s influence in international IP policy and norm-setting processes.
Opening the event, ARIPO Director General Mr. Bemanya Twebaze welcomed the guests and underlined the strategic importance of closer collaboration:
“This gathering is about building bridges between our regional IP institutions and our diplomats so that Africa can speak more confidently, more coherently, and more effectively in shaping the future of global intellectual property.”
He highlighted ARIPO’s 49-year evolution from a technical cooperation platform to a strong regional body that encourages harmonised policies, efficient IP management, and digital innovation. Mr. Twebaze appreciated WIPO’s ongoing support and the achievements of the WIPO-ARIPO-OAPI (WAO) alliance in enhancing capacity building, IP education, and safeguarding traditional knowledge.
“Intellectual property is not just a legal tool; it is a bridge between creativity and economic opportunity, between heritage and innovation. With your continued partnership, we can ensure IP remains a foundation for Africa’s growth.”
Mr. Denis Bohoussou, Director General of OAPI, addressed the gathering, focusing on strengthening Africa’s IP legal infrastructure. He outlined OAPI’s achievements in creating a robust legal environment that supports the economic potential of intellectual assets within its Member States.
“We have established a strong legal foundation that supports our Member States in transforming their creative and innovative potential into real economic value. It is equally vital that we promote this environment to international investors, showcasing Africa’s readiness for knowledge-based partnerships.”
He also highlighted the growing synergy between OAPI and ARIPO, pointing to efforts to bridge their systems and align procedures for the benefit of the entire continent.
The joint efforts of ARIPO and OAPI received strong endorsement from Her Excellency Ms. Julia Imene-Chanduru, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Namibia and Chair of the African Group at WIPO. She commended the spirit of cooperation and encouraged both organizations to continue advancing Africa’s interests:
“Africa must fully take ownership of intellectual property if we are to be active players in the global economy. The African Group stands ready to support these joint initiatives as we work together to achieve our shared development aspirations.”
Her remarks reflected the broader diplomatic consensus that Africa’s engagement in IP must be proactive, coordinated, and anchored in regional strengths.
Ms. Loretta Asiedu, Director of the WIPO Division for Africa, representing Director General Daren Tang, reaffirmed WIPO’s commitment to strengthening partnerships with ARIPO, OAPI, and African Member States. She highlighted the role of IP in driving sustainable development, innovation, and economic inclusion.
“WIPO remains committed to forging stronger, more productive partnerships with Africa’s regional IP organizations. Our goal is to support Member States in fully leveraging IP as a catalyst for sustainable development, innovation, and inclusive growth.”
Participants agreed on the need to institutionalise such engagements through regular briefings and strategic coordination between IP offices and diplomatic missions. The goal is to ensure African positions on IP matters are well-informed, coherent, and strongly represented in international negotiations.
This luncheon marked a pivotal step
toward enhancing Africa’s leadership in global IP dialogue. By uniting regional
expertise with diplomatic presence, ARIPO and OAPI are laying the groundwork
for a more influential and resilient African IP community—one that is prepared
to meet the challenges and seize the opportunities of a rapidly evolving global
knowledge economy.