Qatar's accession to Madrid Protocol enhances its participation in global system for intellectual property protection : Permanent Representative to Geneva

HE Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations at Geneva Dr. Hend bint Abdulrahman Al Muftah took part in the official celebration for Qatars accession to the Madrid Protocol, organized by the Office of the State of Qatar to the World Trade Organization (WTO) and other economic organizations at the headquarters of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in Geneva.Speaking at the event, Her Excellency underlined that Qatar's accession to the Protocol Relating to the Madrid Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Marks, the Madrid Protocol, which has officially entered into force as of August 3, 2024, is of considerable importance for the State of Qatar and reflects its strong commitment to aligning with international standards in IP and innovation systems. The accession to the Madrid Protocol contributes to enhancing Qatars participation in the global system for the protection of intellectual property, strengthening its legal and economic frameworks, and prioritizing IP and knowledge-based economy as cornerstones of its national development strategy.Her Excellency added that accession to the Madrid Protocol is necessarily linked to the ambitious goals of Qatar National Vision 2030 and the Third National Development Strategy for 2024-2030 - the Visions and the Strategy that place human development, knowledge-based innovation, and economic diversification at the heart of national goals.Her Excellency referred to HE Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani's emphasis at the Fourth Edition of Qatar Economic Forum last May, that the State of Qatar is concentrating efforts and resources for the creation of new investment opportunities; and that the State is aiming to be placed amongst the top 10 countries for investment and establishment of businesses.She noted that the participation of eseemed representatives from across the diplomatic, business, and legal communities, as well as distinguished experts from WIPO, shows the international significance of this occasion and reflects the importance of intellectual property in forging stronger economic ties and advancing shared goals for innovation and global prosperity.In this context, Her Excellency highlighted the key role played by Qatar National Bank, Qatar Airways, Ooredoo and Advocate Asma Al-Ghanem Law Firm.She congratulated Qatar International Court, represented by its CEO Faisal Al Sahouti and his team, on signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the occaison with the WIPO concerning cooperation on alternative dispute resolution in the area of intellectual property.HE Qatar's Permanent Representative in Geneva noted that the State of Qatar looks forward to organizing the second edition of the International Mediation and Arbitration Centre Conference in Doha next year, which will focus on the development of IP systems, Technology and sustainable development in the region; expressing gratitude to HE WIPO Director-General Daren Tang, and his team, for his expressed support to hosting this conference.Through these efforts, Qatar is steadily advancing toward its goal of becoming a hub for the peaceful settlement of disputes. By fostering a welcoming environment for arbitration and mediation, Qatar promotes a legal framework that attracts foreign investors and supports the country's broader vision of building and sustaining a diversified economy, HE Excellency said.