(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) Qatari Minister of Economy and Trade Sheikh Ahmad bin Jassem Al Thani and Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Dr. Abdullatif Al-Zayani jointly launched the GCC patent 'hemaya' (protection) portal on Sunday.
The portal will provide inventors from the GCC states to apply for patents.
The launching of the portal took place during a workshop on intellectual property and creativity, organized here by the Qatari Ministry of Economy and Trade in collaboration with the GCC Patent Office (GCCPO) as part of the GCC Days.
The event coincides with the World Intellectual Property Day being observed by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) on April 26 since 2000, the Qatar minister said during a ceremony on this occasion.
"Scientific research made great strides over the last century and became the backbone of socio-economic development," Sheikh Ahmad said, noting that this sector has become an indicator gauging the progress of societies.
"Scientific research represents a growing ratio of economic growth, which highlights the importance of the efforts to protect the intellectual property rights," he went on.
On the two-day workshop, he said it debates issues such as the impacts of intellectual property rights and entrepreneurship on economic development.
He voiced hope that the event will give momentum to the GCC joint action and the process of economic integration.
On his part, Dr. Al-Zayani said the GCC states attach great importance to the inventions and creativity which play an essential role in economic development.
"Better utilization of creativity and human resources can help diversify the sources of national income in the GCC member states," he pointed out.
The GCC chief called for more efforts to promote the awareness about intellectual property right, commending the role of the GCCPO in this regard.
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