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| IFIA Magazine - September 2021

that Mr. Michael Esuong has organized in the the strategies to having a healthy collaboration
past.IFIA president stated that the African amongst members is communication. He also
Network needs more activity to attract sup- urged the IFIA body to provide administrative
port from IFIA’s partnerships and relationships support that would connect every member as
with international organizations such as United most of them are always busy. He went ahead
Nations, World Intellectual Property Organiza- to seek the contacts of every member of the
tion (WIPO), and the African Union. He went African Network to ease communication. IFIA
ahead to encourage African Network to col- president responded by saying he will forward
laborate with their government agencies. He all the contacts to the African Director and
Z[H[LK [OH[ OL ^V\SK VќLY HU` Z\WWVY[ ULLK- urged him to send a message to all members
ed for any country to connect with the gov- to get their commitment and revert to the ex-
ernment as this will help boost their progress ecutive committee. He also said that any inac-
in the quest to promote invention and innova- tive member of the African Network would be
tion. The President urged the African Network assessed and, if need be, will be penalized.
to always do an annual report and send it to Mrs. Celeste, a representative of the Institute
[OL 0-0( VѝJL [V RUV^ [OLPY WYVNYLZZ" OL HSZV of Inventors and Innovators (South Africa),
stated that he would connect with the African added that we should highlight four points
Union body to get support for the IFIA African from which we can collaborate and work on it,
Network projects. which will provide focus
and network progress.
IFIA AFRICAN The African Director ac-
NETWORK IN- knowledged the sug-
TRODUCTION OF gestions and thanked
MEMBERS everyone for their con-
The African Net- tributions.
work members PROMOTION OF IN-
took turns intro- NOVATION AND IN-
ducing themselves VENTION IN AFRICA
and their activities Mr. Michael Esuong
relating to invention said it is imperative to
promotion in their promote African inven-
various countries. tion and innovation, as
Members present the continent seems to
at the meeting are; be behind technological
• Mahmoud Hafez advancement. He ac-
(Egypt) knowledged that more activities that include
• Abdalbasitb (Sudan) exhibitions, conferences, workshops, and
• Majid El Bouazzaoui (Morocco) training would help achieve this. Mr. Hafez
• Celeste – Institute of Inventors and Innova- stated the problem with inventors dealing
tors (South Africa) ^P[O [OL WYVNYLZZ VM [OLPY WH[LU[Z ÄSSPUN HZ [OL
Each member expressed their gratitude for the charges tend to be very high and discour-
progress of the African Network and pledged ages inventors from achieving this. He also
to give in their best for continuous improve- Z\NNLZ[LK ÄUHUJPHS Z\WWVY[ [V PU]LU[VYZ HUK
ment. connecting inventors to cheaper platforms to
COLLABORATION OF MEMBERS WH` MLLZ HUK ÄSL [OLPY WH[LU[Z ;OL 7YLZPKLU[
The IFIA Network director, Mr. Michael Es- responded by saying he will send a letter to
uong, emphasizes the importance of collabo- WIPO to support the IFIA Africa Network in
ration, which will help accomplish more in the their Inventors Assistant Program (IAP) thereby
Network. He also stated that members need reducing patent fees. Mr. Majid El Bouazzaoui
to collaborate and share resources willingly to from Morocco suggested we commence the
improve the activities of the African Network. assessment of all African countries, this could
Mr. Hafez from Egypt suggested that one of OLSW PKLU[PM` JOHSSLUNLZ HUK WYVќLY RL` ZVS\-
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