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Oliver Kazunga

Senior Business Reporter

THE Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the African Regional Intellectual Property Organisation (ARIPO) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to foster the protection of intellectual property rights on products produced in the region.

Speaking during the signing ceremony in Harare today, SADC secretariat executive secretary Mr Elias Makgosi said: “We are signing a very important instrument between the SADC secretariat and ARIPO who are the drivers of intellectual property rights.

“SADC recognises the importance of intellectual property rights and we protect international property rights in the region,” said Mr Makgosi.

An official from ARIPO, Mr David Njuguna said his organisation aims to protect intellectual property rights and transform people’s livelihoods in SADC and the continent at large.

“We are looking at ARIPO working with SADC for capacity building on issues of technical assistance, sharing of information and growing entrepreneurship,” he said.