The Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI), along with the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) and the Africa IP SME Helpdesk, held a hybrid seminar to promote cooperation between Bulgarian companies with partners from North Africa, namely: Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia. More than 70 representatives of various companies, organizations, industry associations, the academic sector, consultants, patent offices, and lawyers took part in the event. The participants received useful information and expert advice on how to facilitate their access to this market and how to prevent possible risks in the implementation of business cooperation, preserving their intellectual property rights (protection and registration of trademarks and inventions).
The event was opened by Mr. Tsvetan Simeonov, President of BCCI, who welcomed the participants and noted that the protection of intellectual property is a competitive advantage of any company willing to position itself in the international markets. Prof. Dr. Vladya Borisova, President of the Patent Office of the Republic of Bulgaria, introduced to the audience the main functions of the Office related to the protection of objects of industrial property and the cooperation that is realized in this direction between the individual institutions.
The Minister of Economy and Industry, Mr. Bogdan Bogdanov, who also participated in the opening of the event, expressed appreciation to BCCI, being the organizer of the event, and mentioned that more similar informational events should be organized in Bulgaria, supporting the internationalization of SMEs on international markets.
Lecturers during the seminar were Mrs. María Clara Ibáñez Fiorillo, an expert in intellectual property, who presented the main functions of the Africa IP SME Helpdesk, and Mr. Ivan Sempere, expert in intellectual property, who presented the main specifics for the individual countries of North Africa (Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia), concerning the protection of intellectual property rights, patent registration, types of protection and competitive advantages when registering these rights.
Mr. Vladimir Yosifov, a specialist in the field of intellectual property and a long-time employee of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), including in various managerial positions, joined the discussions and emphasized the need for closer cooperation between the Chambers of Commerce and Patent Offices in the relevant North African countries, in favor of the overall business climate, the process of sustainability and the right course of commercial activity.
A recording of the event, photos, and all available presentations can be found here.
For additional information, You can contact European Integration and European Projects Directorate, e-mail: projects2@bcci.bg, phone: 02/8117556