Government with the assistance of the World Intellectual Property Organization has formulated a national intellectual property strategic plan with the objective of making our economy more competitive globally.

This was disclosed by Registrar of the Corporate Affairs and Intellectual Property Office (CAIPO), Heather Clarke who said that such competitiveness could only be achieved through creativity, productivity and innovation in the economic, cultural and social sectors.

Acknowledging that proposals for the implementation of certain aspects of the national plan have been submitted and are under consideration, the Registrar admitted that given the significant role of the creative industries sector to our economies, Government has implemented several initiatives for the development and the repositioning of the cultural industries as a viable and sustainable sector of our economy.

“Such support was evidenced by policy changes, the provision of grants, incentives, the provision of funding for cultural projects and cultural entertainment, duty free concessions as well as the provision of grants for our creative and cultural practitioners. Support for these initiatives can be found in the enabling legislation, the Cultural Industries Development Act of 2013 and work is ongoing for the establishment of an Authority to sustain, regulate and facilitate the development of our cultural industries,” she divulged.

Ms. Clarke also pointed out that the emergence and growth of the creative industries as a viable economic sector has been accompanied by changes and developments particularly within the last 10 to 15 years.

However, she was quick to stress that in response to the changing environment, Government was committed to strengthening the regulatory and legal framework.

“…In order to facilitate the growth and sustainable development of the sector work is currently being undertaken by CAIPO and the Advisory Committee on Intellectual Property which is a Ministerial appointed body,” she underlined. (TB/BGIS)