On October 19-21 a delegation from the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), which includes Biserka Strela, Head of the Division for Central Europe, Baltic and Mediterranean Countries, Department for Cooperation with Certain Countries in Europe and Asia, Francesca Toso, Project Manager, Development Sector, Mr. Ron Marchant, Councillor, made a visit to the Republic of Moldova, including the AGEPI, within the project of drafting the new National Intellectual Property Strategy of the Republic of Moldova.

In connection with the expiry in 2010 of the action deadline of the Development Strategy of the national system of protection and use of intellectual property objects by the year 2010, approved by Government Decision No.1143 of 18.09.2003, appeared the need to develop a new national IP Strategy. One of the primary arguments for developing the new Strategy is based on completion of the harmonization of PI national legislation with the acquis communautaire in the field and the need to apply its provisions, including to prevent infringement of IP rights, fight against counterfeiting and piracy, respect the rights, stop the import and sale of counterfeit products in Moldova, etc.

The visit program provides meetings of the WIPO delegation with representatives of AGEPI subdivisions, with the Expert Group for developing the national IP Strategy of the National IP Commission, with representatives of governmental institutions and non-governmental organizations involved in developing the national IP Strategy (Ministry of Economy, Ministry of Justice, Customs Service, AITT Chamber of Commerce and Industry, etc.).

In the process of drafting the national IP Strategy account will be taken of policy documents approved by the Government of the Republic of Moldova, including Government Activity Program “European Integration: Freedom, Democracy, Welfare” for the period 2009-2013, and of the WIPO Recommendations on developing national IP strategies.