Dubai Customs receives a Chinese-Japanese delegation representing 334 trademarks
The delegation praised the Department for combating counterfeiting and protecting intellectual property
Dubai Customs received a joint delegation of high official personnel who represent 334 Chinese and Japanese companies and their trademarks on Monday, June 22nd, 2009. This visit comes inline with the mutual cooperation and exchanging expertise between Dubai Customs and its strategic alliances.
The delegation which is currently in the UAE, has visited Dubai Customs to express their recognition to the role the Department plays in forcing border measures, protecting intellectual property, combating illegal trade, piracy and counterfeiting and to be familiar with the implemented procedures in regards to these.
Mr. Jack Chang, Chairman of the Quality Brand Protection Committee (QBPC) in China that comprises 184 members and companies that have branches in Dubai and Mr. Sam Zhou, Head of Pharmaceutical of QBPC were among the members of the delegation along with Mr. Martin Lerigo, Deputy Chairman of QBPC, Mr. Kuniyasu Funaki, CEO of Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) that has 150 memberships and Mr. Omar Shiteiwi, Chairman of the BPG at the GCC and Yemen as well as other Chinese and Japanese official personnel and members of the BPG Board.
At the beginning of the visit, Mr. Yousif Al Sahlawi, Executive Director of the Legislations and Policies Division at Dubai Customs has welcomed the delegation and emphasized the great interest Dubai Customs is taking in protecting legal trade, producers' rights and owners of trademarks. He said that Dubai Customs has a worldwide well-reputed expertise in that field.
Mr. Yousif Al Sahlawi added:" As we believe in the cause, Dubai Customs was the first governmental customs Department in the Middle East to establish a department that is committed to protecting intellectual property four years ago. This department has achieved a lot of success as it helps raise awareness of fake and counterfeited products. In addition, the department has led a team from a number of governmental departments to combat counterfeiting; the team has received the DGEP Best Joint Governmental Project Award 2008-2009 and this was extremely appreciated by HH Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai."
The delegation saw a presentation on the most updated customs practices and methodologies Dubai Customs implements while combating counterfeited products and protecting trademarks owners and producers' rights; the strategic alliances of UAE and the Department. Furthermore, the presentation showcased some examples of seized illegal products as well as related statistics.
Mr. Yousuf Ozair, Senior Manager of Intellectual Property Rights Department at Dubai Customs (DC), Mr. Abbas A. Makki, Director of External Relations Department at DC, Mr. Ali Alshahi, Manager of Regional and International Relations at DC and Mr. Khalid Babiker Alnour, Legal Advisor of DC attended the meeting as well.
Mr. Yousif Al Sahlawi stated:" we are keen on preserving the international community's trust of what we have accomplished since combating counterfeiting and fraud protects the community from its risks and empowers local and international economy. Therefore, Dubai Customs provides its inspectors with constant training courses given by trademarks owners and some experts at the Department on how to distinguish original goods from fake ones, such training helped minimize counterfeiting."
On the other hand, the Chinese-Japanese delegation expressed their gratitude to Dubai Customs as it plays a major role in protecting their companies' rights. They also said that the Department is trustworthy and praiseworthy since many producers around the world.
At the end, the delegation paid a visit to the Protecting Intellectual Property Rights museum at Dubai Customs where they were shown examples of seized items of fake goods and some original trademarks.
