Ahead of the Intra-African Trade Fair 2021 (IATF2021) taking place in Kigali, Rwanda from 8th to 14Th December 2021, the Creative Africa Nexus, CANEX, has unveiled a series of virtual forums.
To also mark the World Intellectual Property Day 2021 on Monday, April 26, a special CANEX virtual event themed: “IP & SMEs – Taking your Ideas to Market will take place,” has been put in place.
This high-level discussion will be of interest to all working creatives looking to understand and protect their IP rights; anyone in the legal, policy, and implementation sectors of intellectual property practice; as well as financial institutions looking to finance the CCI sector.
A team of IP experts from across a range of sectors will engage on these important topics as well as answer questions from attendees.
Ms. Rita Anwiri Chindah, an Intellectual Property Lawyer and Communicator from Nigeria will moderate the event while the panel will include Nothando Migogo – Director & Co-Founder, Sosela, Angela Ndambuki – Regional Director Sub-Saharan Africa, International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), and Dr. Outule Rapuleng – Head of ARIPO Academy, African Regional Intellectual Property Organisation (ARIPO).
Others are Dr. Mahama Ouedraogo – Director of the Department of Education, Science, Technology, and Innovation (ESTI), African Union Commission, Paulo Lanteri Legal Officer, Copyright Law Division, Copyright and Creative Industries Sector, World International Property Organisation (WIPO).
‘Most African states have in place intellectual property laws that are important tools to safeguard creativity and innovation so as to fuel the growth of copyright-based industries under the African Continental Free Trade Agreement, AfCFTA.
A number of issues remain critical if IP rights are to evolve into an asset class that can be monetised on the continent, including the administration and enforcement of IP laws, and the harmonisation of their application at regional and continental level.
Another element of critical importance for independent creatives and SMEs (Small to Medium Enterprises) is access to intellectual property information, legal support, and enforcement. Smaller creative companies and individual creatives are often unaware of their rights and the resources that are available to assist them in protecting those rights’ a statement from CANEX said.
CANEX is a programme put in place by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) to support Africa’s creative and cultural industries.
Meanwhile, the second edition of the biennial Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) will take place in Kigali from 8 to 14 December 2021. IATF2021 will provide a platform that will allow trade under the African Continental Free Trade Agreement.
It will serve as a marketplace that will bring together continental and global buyers and sellers. It will enable stakeholders to share trade, investment, and market information as well as trade finance and trade facilitation solutions designed to support intra-African trade and African economic integration. In addition to establishing a business-to-business and a business-to-government exchange platform for business deals and advisory services, IATF2021 will also operate IATF2021 Virtual, an interactive online platform accessible to all.
It will also focus on Africa’s creative economy as well as the automotive industry with dedicated programs.
A conference will run alongside the exhibition and will feature high-profile speakers and panellists addressing topical issues relating to trade, trade finance, payments, trade facilitation, trade-enabling infrastructure, trade standards, industrialization, regional value chains, and investment.
