The International Conference of Central Europe and Baltic Countries Group (CEBS) – Sakpatent was being held in Tbilisi. It was organized by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the National Center for Intellectual Property of Georgia.
14 countries are participating in the conference. High-ranking guests from WIPO, specially invited professors from Cambridge University, and famous Georgian and foreign designers are participating in the event.
The conference will discuss the role of design, one of the most important parts of intellectual property in the modern economy, as well as the important aspects of the Riyadh Treaty of Design Law (RDLT) and the Hague System of International Registration for Industrial Design.
The conference was opened by Levan Zhorzholiani, the head of administration of the Government of Georgia, with a welcome speech.
The participants of the event were addressed by: Minister of Culture of Georgia, Tinatin Rukhadze, Chairman of the Cultural Committee of the Parliament of Georgia, Giorgi Gabunia, Deputy Minister of Education, Science and Youth of Georgia, Baia Kvitsiani, Chairman of Sakpatent, Soso Giorgadze, and Director of WIPO Trademarks, Industrial Design and Geographic Celebrations Department, Mark U.S. Hopperger. WIPO CEO Daren Tang addressed the participants remotely from Geneva.
The event will focus on the importance of protecting design in entrepreneurship and creative industries, which will help encourage innovation, strengthen competitive environments, and attract investment.
It should be noted that, on the initiative of the Sakpatent, internal procedures for the Riyadh Treaty have already begun to join Georgia, which will be an important step in the process of further developing the country’s intellectual property system and bringing it closer to international standards.
“I thank the Sakpatent for initiating and organizing this conference. The role of creative industries is of utmost importance for the economic stability of the country and in general development. Culture is one of the main components of the economy, and design is part of it.
It is important that Georgia hosts a conference in which 14 countries participate. The hub of the Georgia region in terms of creative industries development. With this conference, we confirm our capabilities and readiness for active cooperation, – said Tinatin Rukhadze.
In parallel with the conference sessions, an exhibition of Georgian designers’ works was organized, where famous national brands were presented: “Avtandili”, “Ashvi”, “Dalood”, and “Samoseli Pili”. The exhibition also presents Georgian traditional clothes and jewelry art pieces preserved in the Georgian Ministry of Culture and the Palace of Arts – the Museum of Culture and the Museum of Culture.
