Administrator and Registrar-General Saptiue Saccoh Calls on WIPO Director for Africa Marc Sery-Kore

Geneva, Switzerland, 19 July 2022 - The Administrator and Registrar-General of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Madam Saptieu Elizabeth Saccoh today paid a courtesy call on the World Intellectual Property Organisation's Director of the Division of Africa Regional and National Development Sector, Mr Marc Sery-Kore at WIPO Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.

The engagement aimed to extend felicitations from His Excellency President Dr Julius Maada Bio to the Leadership of WIPO. The Administrator and Registrar-General also used the occasion to assure the WIPO Director of Africa of the Government of Sierra Leone’s support to his Leadership and Management Team at WIPO.

Madam Saccoh expressed excitement and disclosed that she was honoured by the warm reception her delegation received from the members of the WIPO, particularly from the Director of the Division of Africa.

The Administrator and Registrar-General pointed out that the essence of the meeting was to strengthen the bilateral partnership and foster development between the Government of Sierra Leone and the World Intellectual Property Organisation through the Africa Division.

She catalogued the numerous reforms made by the government through her Office and the Office of Attorney General and Minister of Justice to functionalised Intellectual Property (IP) in Sierra Leone, adding that the government is reforming laws that are creating a conducive environment for functional Intellectual Property nationwide. These, the Registrar-General said will improve the use of IP in the country.

She informed the Director of the current consultative meeting on the Review of the Intellectual Property Development Plan (IPDP) in Sierra Leone, noting that the current review and implementation of the IPDP need technical and financial support from WIPO.

The Administrator and Registrar-General applauded the Director of the Division of Africa Regional and National Development Sector and his team for their technical support to Sierra Leone over the years and reiterated the government's readiness to fulfil its WIPO obligations.

The Administrator and Registrar-General reiterated that Sierra Leone would always support the leadership of WIPO at all times, to enhance cooperation.

In his short response, the Director of the Division of Africa Regional and National Development Sector, Mr Marc Sery-Kore, used the occasion to thank His Excellency President Dr Julius Maada Bio for his message and assured of strengthening the partnership between the Division of Africa of WIPO and its Member States, including Sierra Leone in promoting Intellectual Property use for a productive environment.

The Director of Africa assured the Sierra Leone delegation of his willingness to deepen collaboration and continued capacity building with member states of the WIPO.

Madam Saptieu Elizabeth Saccoh was accompanied by Mr Ibrahim Sam Johnson, the technical expert in the Office of the Administrator and Registrar-General.

*For More Enquiries:
Mohamed Sheriff
Information Attaché, Geneva, Switzerland
+41791756648
Email: m.sheriff@slmge.ch*