On July 28 and 29, 2025, Yaoundé hosted the joint regional conference of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the African Intellectual Property Organization (AIPO), organized in collaboration with the Cameroonian government. A major event focused on creativity and the development of the creative economy. The meeting brought together ministers, representatives of cultural administrations, general directors of collective management societies, and experts in copyright and the cultural industry.
A strong political commitment for the future
Opening the conference, Cameroonian Minister of Arts and Culture Ismaël Bidoung MKPATT emphasized that better promotion of creative works would have a positive impact on the economy of the country. Indeed, he affirmed that copyright is an important source of income for creators and their publishing houses, as well as an economic vector for society. Often reduced to its simplest expression, copyright is more than a matter of respect for creators. Copyright finances the creative process and fosters innovation. This is why, aware of the shortcomings of its development in Cameroon, the government wishes to develop a national policy to overcome the obstacles that hinder the full development of this sector.
WIPO's Africa Division Director, Loretta Asiedu, highlighted that: "Cultural and creative industries generate more than $2.25 trillion in revenue annually and employ more than 30 million people worldwide."
An immense potential that African countries can harness to build inclusive and sustainable growth through the judicious use of copyright.
The Director General of OAPI, Denis BOHOUSSOU, reaffirmed the Organization's ambition within the framework of these meetings, that of: "Formulating concrete proposals and effective actions aimed at optimizing the exploitation of copyright to truly boost the development of the creative economy in our countries."
Also present at these proceedings, of which they presided over the closing ceremony, the Minister of Industrial Development and Promotion of the Private Sector of Congo, Antoine Thomas Nycephore Fylla de Saint-Eudes, President of the Board of Directors of OAPI, as well as the Minister of Cultural Industry, Tourism, Artistic and Leisure of Congo, Lydie Pongault, reiterated their commitment to supporting the implementation in their member states of the action plan to support the development of the creative economy which will result from the work of these meetings.
Dynamic panels, enriching themes and constructive discussions
During these two intense days, experts from diverse backgrounds and participants from OAPI member states took part in five high-level panels that provided an update on the situation of copyright, collective management, and creativity in the fields of music, cinematography, and publishing. It became clear that there are many creations whose potential for development has not been fully exploited. These panels highlighted the growth niches in each of these areas and identified the obstacles that need to be removed for better development.
Concrete ideas for effective strategies
The work resulted in the formulation of strategies aimed at:
- Promote collective management of copyright,
- Encourage the paid use of cultural works,
- Optimizing digital infrastructure for better access to global markets,
- Stimulate the development of local solutions adapted to African realities;
- Improve collaboration between stakeholders in the cultural industry system.
The synergy of actors for better prospects.
The Yaoundé conference concluded with the aim of formulating a concrete regional and national action plan that will truly contribute to the development of the creative economy in OAPI member states. It was a constructive and engaged dialogue between creators, cultural administrators, international experts, and politicians from OAPI member states. It was also the result of dynamic cooperation between WIPO and OAPI and remarkable preparation by the teams of these institutions.
