A WELCOME NOTE FROM THE REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA

STATE OFFICE OF INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY (SOIP)

SOIP and the CARDS IPR Project in the Western Balkans
Following the orientation of the Republic of Macedonia and its intention to become a part of the European integrations, SOIP is trying to trace the path of effective IPR protection, which will be comparable to those in the EU countries. As it is not an easy task to be accomplished, the commencement of the new CARDS Regional IPR Project is an opportunity that is given and should be used in order to provide such higher level of IPR protection.

The general concept of the CARDS IPR Project launched by the European Commission, to support the economic development of the CARDS countries through effective and adequate protection and enforcement of IP rights in line with the requirements of the SAA and WTO, for the IP institutions in Macedonia is a very suitable solution and comes at the very right moment.

The Project covers all the diversity of IP rights and through its realization certain specific objectives should be achieved, such as improvement of regional cooperation between IP Offices, improvement of the administrative procedures before the IP Institutions that should be in line with the EU practice, strengthening of the enforcement of IPR by judicial authorities, establishing the efficient exchange of information within the region and promotion of general awareness of IPR in the region.

Taking into consideration the complexity of the CARDS Regional IPR Project as an educational support of the European Commission, I expect that the fulfillment of the agenda of the Project will have a significant contribution in creating a modern system of IP rights protection in the Republic of Macedonia and in the whole region as well.
Mr.Dzemail Eljmazi, Director State Office of Industrial Property of the Republic of Macedonia

Director General Mr.Dzemail Eljmazi State Office of Industrial Property of the Republic of Macedonia Tel: +38923116379,ext: 107.137,189 Fax: +3892311604 Web: www.ipo.gov.mk Click here to find more about organisational structure