ARIPO promotes digitalisation of Intellectual Property Services

The African Regional Intellectual Property Organisation (ARIPO) Online Services Sensitisation Workshop, aiming to promote digitalisation of Intellectual Property Services, was held yesterday morning at the Caudan Arts Centre in Port-Louis. The event was organised by the ARIPO in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade.

The workshop was a platform to sensitise participants on ARIPO’s online services and enhance awareness on the benefits of its e-filing system for intellectual property administration. It also sought to promote greater regional integration in intellectual property protection, while encouraging the use of digital tools for efficient online filing, payment of fees and real-time tracking of applications across multiple African jurisdictions.

The Junior Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade, Mr Hambyrajen Narsinghen; the Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Janmajaising Bissoondoyal; Senior ICT Associate of ARIPO, Mr Robert Chiweza; members of the ARIPO delegation; as well as other distinguished guests were present at the opening ceremony.

In his address, the Junior Minister highlighted that Mauritius, as a founding member of ARIPO, is continuously strengthening its engagement with the Organisation, notably through its accession to the Lusaka Agreement in 2020 and the Harare Protocol on Patents, Utility Models and Industrial Designs in 2025. He further recalled that Mauritius deposited its instrument of accession to the Protocol on 27 May 2025 with a view to reinforcing its regional presence and aligning with national development objectives.

Mr Narsinghen emphasised the strategic importance of ARIPO in complementing global frameworks, such as the World Intellectual Property Organisation, by providing a regionally adapted system that supports intra-African trade, innovation and cooperation.

He further pointed out that in today’s fast-paced digital economy, the effectiveness of an intellectual property system is closely linked to its accessibility. ARIPO’s online services offer significant advantages, including seamless filing across multiple jurisdictions, reduced administrative constraints, cost and time optimisation and enhanced service delivery, he added.

22 April 2026

Email: gis@govmu.org

Website: https://gis.govmu.org

Mobile App: GIS News

Topics: Foreign Affairs, Diplomacy