Delivering the opening speech by the Chairman of the IP Central Committee, Deputy Prime Minister and Union Minister for Defence, General Mya Tun Oo at the meeting of the IP Central Committee 1/2023

   The meeting of the Intellectual Property (IP) Central Committee 1/2023 was held at the conference room of the Ministry of Commerce, Nay Pyi Taw in the morning on June 21, 2023 and the Chairman of the Intellectual Property Central Committee, Deputy Prime Minister and Union Minister for Ministry of Defence, General Mya Tun Oo delivered an opening speech.

   The Meeting was attended by the Vice-Chairman of the IP Central Committee and Union Minister for the Ministry of Commerce U Aung Naing Oo, Deputy Ministers and Director Generals from different Ministries, members of the IP Central Committee and responsible officials.

   In the opening speech, the Chairman of the IP Central Committee said that the four IP Laws namely Trademark Law, Industrial Design Law, Patent Law and Copyright Law were promulgated in Myanmar in 2019. Among them, Trademark Law has come into effect on April 1, 2023 and Trademark Registration was able to be launched on April 26, 2023. In implementing the IP Laws, the IP Central Committee currently consists of the representatives of the related ministries and organizations and it is also necessary to incorporate of IP experts into the Committee. Since the IP Agency has already organized in April 2023, the IP Agency has to carry out its functions and duties as provided in the IP Laws. In establishing the national IP System, the IP Agency is the chief organ in implementing the IP laws under the guidance of the IP Central Committee and the Agency can form the necessary working groups depending on the different category as needed. The Chairman also urged to proceed to implement the rest IP Laws such as Industrial Design Law, Patent Law and Copyright Law with great efforts as like the Trademark Law entering into force. Then, he said, Myanmar has to prepare for the accession to the International Conventions and Treaties according to the ASEAN IPR Action Plan like other ASEAN Member States. Moreover, it is needed to raise public awareness to the entrepreneurs and IP creators who will be the applicants of the IP registration in cooperation with the members of the IP Central Committee.

   Next, the Vice-Chairman of the IP Central Committee and Union Minister for Ministry of Commerce U Aung Naing Oo reported on the measures regarding the developing tasks of the IP System. Then, the Secretary of the IP Central Committee, Deputy Minister U Nyunt Aung stated the accomplishments on implementing the decisions of the former meetings of the IP Central Committee. Thereupon, the Joint-Secretary Director General Dr. Moe Moe Thwe submitted a number of Memo Letters to be decided and recorded at the meeting upon which the Chairman discussed and added the necessities. Afterward, Chairman of the Central Committee concluded the meeting by delivering a closing speech.