The Moroccan Office of Industrial and Commercial Property (OMPIC) and the African Intellectual Property Organization (OAPI) have signed a new two-year work plan to strengthen cooperation and support industrial property across Africa. The agreement covers 2026 and 2027. It was signed during a bilateral meeting held on the sidelines of the 68th Assemblies of the Member States of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in Geneva.
OMPIC Director General Abdelaziz Babqiqi and OAPI Director General Denis L. Bohoussou led the meeting.
The two sides reviewed their ongoing cooperation, discussed recent developments at both organisations and agreed on priorities for the next two years.
The new work plan sets out areas of cooperation until the end of 2027. It aims to strengthen the institutional capacity of both organisations and promote the development of industrial property across the continent.
The partnership also aims to support innovation, help businesses become more competitive and encourage companies to make better use of intangible assets such as patents, trademarks, industrial designs and geographical indications.
Industrial property protects inventions, brands and product designs. It gives businesses exclusive rights over their creations and is seen as an important tool for attracting investment, encouraging innovation and supporting economic growth.
OAPI is one of Africa’s two regional intellectual property organisations. It has 17 member states in West and Central Africa and operates a single system that allows patents, trademarks and other industrial property rights to be protected across all member countries through one application.
The agreement was signed during WIPO’s annual assemblies, which brought together member states and intellectual property offices from around the world to discuss global intellectual property policy and international cooperation.
No financial details of the work plan were announced.
