Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
President Edgar Lungu has disclosed that government has begun the process of reviewing the legal framework for strengthening Zambia’s intellectual property system.
President Lungu says this is being done by the introduction of five bills to Parliament next year.
He states that the bills are aimed at consolidating the law with regards traditional folklore, patents, trademarks, integrated circuits and industrial designs.
President Lungu has explained that these laws will be an important step in Zambia’s efforts to domesticate various international agreements.
He notes that these efforts also represent the value that the Country is placing on innovation and creativity of its people.
President Edgar Lungu
President Lungu however notes that for Zambia to achieve maximum benefits from this, emphasis should be placed on building capacities of the people and institutions in the Country.
He was speaking in speech read on his behalf by Vice President Inonge Wina at official opening of 15th session of African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO) Council of Ministers conference which runs from today, the 19th to the 20th of November.
And President Lungu has expressed happiness that ARIPO has also played a significant role in capacities building by establishing a master’s program in intellectual property at the Africa University in Zimbabwe.
He says he is informed that this program which commenced in 2008 has already produced over 200 graduates who include Zambians.
President Lungu thinks that deliberate efforts towards expanding the programme in the sub-region are a welcome development.
He says this is because the programme will accelerate the generation of the critical human resource required to drive the intellectual property agenda on the African continent.