DAR ES SALAAM, April 30 (NNN-DAILYNEWS) — GOVERNMENT of Tanzania plans to collaborate with the private sector and other stakeholders to promote the intellectual property for the sub-sector to play a pivotal role to individual and national economic growth.
To realise this, the State is set to establish platforms and awards in collaboration with the said players.
Speaking at the celebrations of World Intellectual Property Day held in Dar es Salaam, the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade, Dr Hashil Abdallah said stakeholders who will be engaged in the process include schools and universities.
He urged intellectual property stakeholders to realise the sector in the development of the country and creating more jobs, saying that it was the right time to increase efforts of promoting innovation to enable the country to make good use of technology for economic growth and sustainable development.
Dr Hashil said that despite the government expecting to improve intellectual property laws, rules and other regulations, the members of the public are called to use the available opportunities through legal reviews and the creation of policies which will favor their views and hence promote development.
“The government expects that through laws, regulations, and various programs that contribute to intellectual property, various challenges in our communities will be resolved based on our innovations. Through this platform, it is important for us to have a shared understanding that the current world requires more protection, growth in innovation, science, and technology, so when we talk about intellectual property, we are talking about science and technology,” he said.
He said that without the use of intellectual property, the economic growth of any country will be adversely affected, noting that developed states have recorded successes from the sub-sector.
At the well-attended event, Business Registration and Licensing Agency (BRELA) Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Godfrey Nyaisa said his organisation joined the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and other country to commemorate the day in order to raise awareness and empower the community over the intellectual property.
This year’s commemorations is being heralded by the theme ‘Women and IP: accelerating Innovation and Creativity in Business’.
“The aim is to realise the contribution of innovative women in accelerating business and their position in the economic growth,” he said.
Ernest Mwenda, a businessman from Active Mama Company, congratulated the government for the initiative adding that there were many things he and his fellow traders did not know and hence, this will enlighten them and hence make more profit.
Mwenda also advised more people to learn on how intellectual property matters are regulated so that they don’t plunge into the legal trap of owning someone else’s innovation which is considered normal, but it is a person’s right and doing so is punishable by the law.
“The government should strive to reach out to many more people with this knowledge as one way of fighting plagiarism and other innovation piracy actions,” he said.
The World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), says in its website that “In 2023, we celebrate the “can do” attitude of women inventors, creators and entrepreneurs around the world and their ground-breaking work.
“Women in all regions are shaping the world through their imagination, ingenuity and hard work, but often face significant challenges in accessing the knowledge, skills, resources and support they need to thrive.”
