Geneva, Switzerland, 7 July 2026 – On the margins of the Sixty-Eighth Series of Meetings of the Assemblies of the Member States of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the Minister of Commerce and Industry, H.E. Mr. Nino Pereira, accompanied by the Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste to the United Nations Office and other International Organizations in Geneva, Switzerland, H.E. Mr. António da Conceição along with other delegates, held a bilateral meeting with the Director General of WIPO, Mr Daren Tang, to discuss Timor-Leste's intellectual property (IP) priorities and future cooperation.

Director General Tang reaffirmed WIPO's continued support for Timor-Leste and emphasized that intellectual property is a strategic tool for national development. He encouraged Timor-Leste to use IP, particularly geographical indications, to increase the value of local products, harness IP to support the blue economy, continue learning from established IP offices, especially IP Offices in ASEAN, and actively participate in WIPO Academy programmes and scholarship opportunities to strengthen national expertise.

H.E. Minister Nino Pereira, in response, expressed the Government's appreciation for WIPO's longstanding partnership and continuous technical assistance, and reaffirmed that the enactment of Timor-Leste's Industrial Property Code, expected later this year, will pave the way for the establishment of the country's first National Intellectual Property Office. The Minister also reaffirmed the Government's commitment to working closely with WIPO in implementing the new legal framework, strengthening institutions and human capacity, digitalizing IP administration, and promoting intellectual property as a driver of innovation, entrepreneurship and sustainable economic development.