(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) The Jebel Ali Free Zone, known as Jafza, has stressed the need for a joint initiative of key stakeholders to draw an effective strategy to fight illegal trade and violation of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) in the world.
"As a vital trade and logistics hub, it is a matter of strategic priority for all of us. Concrete actions and solutions will not only facilitate trade growth but also help in maintaining safety, security and integrity of society at large," according to Jafza.
Jafza made the statement during a panel discussion it organised on Wednesday at Dubai Chamber auditorium in Jebel Ali Free Zone on the subject of "Combatting illegal trade and Safeguarding Intellectual Property Right".
Through the panel discussion Jafza sought to develop a platform, which could facilitate closer cooperation and coordination between public and private sector to formulate effective strategy to protect IPR and boost fair trade.
The panel discussion was attended by all key stakeholders including Dubai Customs, DED, Dubai Police, Ministry of Economy, Dubai Chamber, National Association of Freight and Logistics (NAFL), Brand Owners Protection Group (BPG) and Jafza.
The forum concluded with the signing of a joint declaration by all stakeholders: "Growing global piracy, counterfeiting and illegal trade threaten economies, the competitiveness of industries and the health and safety of consumers worldwide. We all present in this Forum stand against such illicit activities and commit ourselves to working together to combat all kinds of illegal trade and protect IPR within our territories in the UAE and the world."
Ibrahim Aljanahi, deputy chief executive officer Jafza, commenting on the forum, said: "The initiative is part of Jafza's commitment to sustain Dubai and the UAE's economic development by facilitating fair trade and ensuring that all legal and regulatory requirements are fully complied with. As a responsible corporate citizen of the world, Jafza is fully committed to fight against growing global piracy, counterfeiting and all kinds of illicit trade.
"IPR infringement and illegal trade are essentially multi-dimensional problem starting from the point of origin, where such goods are manufactured, transit hubs and the destination, where these products are consumed. To win arduous fight against counterfeiting and piracy, the problem needs to be tackled at all the three levels.
"Through this initiative we also want to leverage the combined strength of government bodies, regulatory/law enforcement authorities and private sector to more effectively handle the problem. We in Dubai have been firmly acting against such illegal trade and IPR infringements and will continue to do so even though we realise that for these efforts to become more effective strong support from the origin and destination countries are required. We need to continue learning from each other on best practices and our experiences on countering such activities."
The panelists focused on specific IPR infringement issues, their initiatives to fight the menace, steps taken for creating awareness about the importance of IPR and the impact of IPR violations on society and businesses in specific context and their view on how to tackle these issues more effectively and efficiently.
Yousuf Ozair, manager of IPR Department, Dubai Customs speaking at the panel discussion said: "Protecting intellectual property rights of producers and safeguarding consumers from the dangers of substandard and spurious counterfeit products are Dubai Customs' key priorities. We have been fighting IPR infringements and counterfeit continuously over the years."
Omar Shteiwi from BPG commenting on the subject said: "As investors in Dubai, we highly appreciate the efforts rendered by Jafza and other government authorities on our quest to combat counterfeit and illicit trade. However, further vigilance and exposure of counterfeiters to deterrent penalties is required."
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