Guinea-Bissau has been hosting the 24th consultation meeting between the African Intellectual Property Organization (OAPI) and its National Liaison Structures (NLS) in member states since April 8, 2025. The event was inaugurated by the Minister of Trade and Industry of Guinea-Bissau, Mr. Orlando Mendes Viegas, alongside the Director General of OAPI, Mr. Denis Bohoussou.
This annual meeting constitutes a privileged platform for exchange and dialogue between the Directorate General of OAPI and the Heads of the National Liaison Structures, responsible for promoting intellectual property in the 17 member states of the organization.
Current topics on the agenda
The work for this 2025 edition focuses on three major areas:
- The evolution of intellectual property protection procedures and practices in Member States
- The challenges related to international legal developments in the intellectual property system
- Major promotional events planned for 2025 at OAPI
In his opening address, the Minister of Trade and Industry commended the efforts of OAPI to promote intellectual property in its member states. He urged participants to intensify their actions to stimulate the development of intellectual property, emphasizing its importance in addressing the socio-economic challenges facing populations.
A celebration of Bissau-Guinean artisanal heritage
The work will conclude on April 10, 2025, with a national event promoting intellectual property, presided over by the Prime Minister, Head of Government. This ceremony will celebrate the ancestral know-how of Guinea-Bissau's artisans, with the official presentation of registration certificates for more than one hundred designs and models of the DI PINTI loincloth.
High-level encounters
On the sidelines of this meeting, the Director General of OAPI was received in audience on April 7, 2025, by the Prime Minister, Head of Government of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau, Mr. DUARTE DE BARROS III, as well as by the Minister of Trade and Industry, Administrator of OAPI. These discussions provided an opportunity to explore prospects for supporting national stakeholders in Guinea-Bissau in the optimal use of intellectual property, particularly in supporting the private sector and artisans.
This 24th consultation meeting reaffirms the commitment of OAPI and its member states to promote an effective intellectual property system adapted to the realities of the countries.
