The Liberia Intellectual Property Office (LIPO), in collaboration with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, is gearing up as part of its two-phase activities in celebrating World Intellectual Property Day, scheduled for April 26, 2025.
Speaking on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, at the Ministry of Information, Garmai Koboi, Director General of Liberia Intellectual Property Office, said the theme for this year’s program is “The Role of Intellectual Property and the Creative Sector in Achieving the ARREST AGENDA Under Program Seven.”
It brings together key stakeholders, policymakers, and development partners, among others, under one roof to discuss and position Intellectual Property as a key driver of socio-economic development. A conference was held on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, as part of a deliberate national effort by the Government of Liberia to strengthen the development of the country’s intellectual property ecosystem, as enshrined in Section 7 of the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development.
Director General Koboi said the integration of intellectual property into the country’s development agenda comes as the Government of Liberia recognizes that each pillar of the ARREST Agenda- Agriculture, Roads, Rule of Law, Education, Sanitation, and Tourism, directly interacts with intellectual property.
She said in Agriculture, intellectual property empowers innovation and adds value to our agricultural products, transforming commodities into premium goods with identity and market appeal.
This indicates that Intellectual Property is a key economic tool in strengthening the country’s agriculture sector while improving revenue base and farmers’ income. She said in education, intellectual property frameworks such as copyright and licensing ensure that knowledge is not just shared, but that creators and innovators benefit economically from their work.
She said when it comes to Tourism and Culture, intellectual property does more than protect Liberia’s music, crafts, traditions, and breathtaking landscapes. It turns these rich cultural expressions into marketable assets that contribute to national branding, create jobs, and fuel socio-economic development.
“As we host this conference, the Government of Liberia is elevating the discourse around Intellectual Property and its role in achieving the ARREST Agenda, a bold and visionary plan geared toward inclusive development and improving the lives of all Liberians”, she added.
She said a Musical Jamboree and IP Awareness Festival will be held on April 26 at the Invisible Park. She said LIPO is committed to working with all stakeholders to ensure intellectual property becomes a cross-cutting enabler of economic diversification, legal reform, industrial policy, and trade strategy.
