On October 17, 2025, the Moroccan Office of Industrial and Commercial Property (OMPIC) headquarters in Casablanca hosted the first conference of the Francophone Alliance for Intellectual Property . This historic meeting brought together Directors General of intellectual property (IP) institutions, policymakers, experts and creators from the French-speaking world around a common goal: to strengthen cooperation and define innovative strategies to address intellectual property challenges in the French-speaking world.
A ceremony that opens a platform for discussions on the promotion of French-speaking IP
The day began with an official ceremony, with the intervention of Mr. Ryad Mezzour , Minister of Industry and Trade of the Kingdom of Morocco. In his speech, Mr. Mezzour welcomed the delegations present and stressed the importance of promoting research and innovation in French, in order to support the technological development of the Alliance member countries.
The Vice President of the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises (CGEM) then emphasized the need to transform intellectual property into a measurable competitive advantage, citing the example of South Korea. OMPIC Director General Abdelaziz Babqiqi presented encouraging statistics on the progress of industrial property operations within his office, while recalling the efforts to be continued.
Directors General and representatives of partner institutions also took the floor to share their vision of the strategic role of IP in the development of French-speaking countries. Among them:
- Mr. Pascal Faure , Director General of INPI France
- Mr. George Ghandour , representative of the Director General of WIPO
A high-level panel for a common vision
The second highlight of the event was devoted to an inaugural panel bringing together the Directors General to discuss the theme of Francophone cooperation. Each reaffirmed their commitment to building a common vision of IP, based on sharing expertise, pooling resources, and strengthening partnerships.
The following people participated in this panel:
- Mr. Jean-Pierre Santos, Director General of the Monaco Industrial Property Office (MCIPO)
- Mr. Mondésir Oualou Panouala , Deputy Director General of OAPI, representative of the Director General
- Mr. Gilles Requena, Director of Patent Research and Policy at the European Patent Office (EPO)
Round tables looking to the future
The last part of the day was devoted to two thematic round tables, the first of which focused on the evolution of intellectual property in the era of new technologies, with rich discussions on the issues related to artificial intelligence , digital technology and the transformation of innovation models.
The second highlighted the role of geographical indications as a tool for sustainable development, particularly in the service of women in the French-speaking world.
Distinctions and promising prospects
Prior to the roundtables, several partner institutions were recognized for their commitment. On this occasion, OAPI received a trophy of excellence for its exemplary cooperation with OMPIC. In the face of profound changes in our societies, the production and promotion of intellectual property in French appears to be a strategic lever for ensuring the place of French-speaking countries in the global economy of tomorrow.
This first event of the Alliance paves the way for an ambitious dynamic, with promising prospects for future meetings.
