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The "2014 Guangdong/Hong Kong Seminar on Intellectual Property (IP) and the Development of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) (Shanwei)" was held in Shanwei, Guangdong Province, today (June 5).
The seminar, entitled "Enhance Competitiveness by Intellectual Property Exploitation", targeted Hong Kong SMEs and Mainland enterprises in Guangdong Province. It not only aimed to strengthen enterprises' awareness of IP protection, but also promoted the wise use of IP to raise their competitive advantage.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Acting Deputy Director of Intellectual Property, Mr Frederick Wong, said the seminar served as a platform for SMEs to keep abreast of the latest developments of IP systems in the region.
Mr Wong said, "Enterprises in Guangdong Province and Hong Kong should seize the opportunity to jointly promote the development of IP in the region to foster a win-win business environment and create wealth. Through introducing IP knowledge, protection and management as well as the latest developments of the IP systems in Hong Kong and Guangdong Province in the seminar, we hope to promote the effective use of IP by enterprises in the region to sharpen their competitive edge and explore more business opportunities."
The seminar, which brought together more than 100 SME representatives and government officials from Guangdong and Hong Kong, was one of the key programmes of Guangdong-Hong Kong IP co-operation this year. It was jointly organised by the Intellectual Property Department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, the Guangdong Intellectual Property Office and the People's Government of Shanwei Municipality; undertaken by the Shanwei Intellectual Property Administration; and co-organised by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Guangdong of the HKSAR Government. The event was also supported by other members of the Guangdong/Hong Kong Expert Group on the Protection of Intellectual Property Rights and the Federation of Hong Kong Industries.
Since 2004, Guangdong and Hong Kong have been working together to organise seminars promoting IP protection among SMEs. Similar seminars have been held in cities including Dongguan, Shaoguan, Shunde, Huizhou, Jiangmen, Zhanjiang, Zhuhai, Shantou, Zhongshan, Guangzhou, Zhaoqing, Foshan and Qingyuan.
Details of the seminar in Shanwei are available on the Intellectual Property Department's website www.ipd.gov.hk.
Ends/Thursday, June 5, 2014
Issued at HKT 15:00
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