The Sultanate accords great importance to intellectual property and taps the expertise of the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) when drafting its own national property strategy, said Eng. Fatima bint Khalfan al-Balushia, Biotechnology Patent Rights Specialist at the Commerce and Industry Ministry’s Department of Intellectual Property.

    Oman’s intellectual property strategy aims to enhance factors of innovation and competitiveness of products by applying intellectual property, financing products, developing nascent companies and activating market economy through the improvement of the legal system of intellectual property and augmenting respect for intellectual property in the Middle East.  Al-Balushia pointed out that the existence of such a strategy makes the Sultanate an attractive climate for investments in the region because it makes all types of businesses sustainable, protected by law and based on knowledge, within Oman Vision 2040.

    National strategies for intellectual property also enhance the Sultanate’s potential to general value-added economic assets within the sphere of intellectual property, said al-Balushia, who called upon owners of innovations to get them registered before opting to exhibitions or competitions in order to fence them against plagiarism.

    The National Intellectual Property Strategy will greatly contribute to research and goes in line with Oman Vision 2040 and the concept of comprehensive development in the Sultanate.  It will also support knowledge-based development and innovation, besides enhancing integration among influential parties involved in research.  This is in addition to achieving excellence in research in a manner that is conducive to the desired positive economic and social activity and, hence, supports ‘human capital’. ONA