Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Minister of Law and Human Rights Yasonna Laoly has stressed the importance of intellectual property rights for economic development.

The minister made the remarks at the General Assembly of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in Geneva, the Indonesian Permanent Representative Office in Geneva noted in a written statement received by Antara here on Thursday.

Laoly laid emphasis on a balanced approach to the global intellectual property right for the protection, advancement, and utilization of intellectual property rights for national economic development.

Laoly elaborated on the various efforts to modernize Indonesia`s intellectual property system through the Patent, Copyright, and New Geographical Brands Indications.

He also emphasized the right of all local communities to maintain, protect, and develop communal intellectual property for cultural heritage, especially the wealth of Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge, and Traditional Cultural Expressions.

To this end, the Indonesian government is calling for the completion of international treaty negotiations related to WIPO that will provide protection of intellectual property for the wealth of Indonesian genetic and cultural resources.

Furthermore, Minister Laoly remarked that the future focus of the Indonesian government was to protect the rights of audio-visual artists and performers through the ratification plan of "Beijing Treaty on Audiovisual Performances."

Meanwhile, the Indonesian Permanent Representative for the United Nations, WTO, and other International Organizations in Geneva, Ambassador Hasan Kleib, in his capacity as the Asia, Pacific and Middle East Regional Group Coordinator at WIPO, also highlighted the importance of intellectual property benefits for development.

In the statement he presented representing the 44 countries of the WIPO member group, Ambassador Kleib emphasized the need for commitment from WIPO member countries to make development an integral part of WIPO`s activities.

Developing nations view that developed countries often value intellectual property as a matter of protection by developing countries, such as against copyright, brand, and patent infringement. However, developing countries stress the importance of access to intellectual property to maintain sustainable development and economic growth.

On the occasion of a bilateral meeting with WIPO Director General Francis Gurry, Menkumham Yasona, who was accompanied by Ambassador Kleib, also discussed work to make intellectual property as one of the leading sectors in the Indonesian economy through the empowerment of universities, research institutions, and national inventors and inventors.

The Indonesian delegation, led by Minister Laoly, attended the 58th meeting of the WIPO General Assembly Meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, being held from September 24 to October 2, 2018.

The meeting was attended by 191 WIPO member countries and more than 250 non-governmental organizations.





Reporting by Yuni Arisandy
Editing by Andi Abdussalam, Otniel

Reporter: Antara
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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