Cambodia and Singapore have renewed their agreement to safeguard industrial sector intellectual property rights. 

It is the second five-year renewal of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that Singapore’s Intellectual Property Office (IPO) and Cambodia’s Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology and Innovation (MISTI) initially signed in 2015. The MOU aims to strengthen economic ties and assist Cambodia’s innovation environment through capacity training, IP protection and adherence to international norms. 

MISTI Minister Hem Vanndy stated: “We have strengthened the IP systems and promoted industrial property protection in both countries through official collaboration on tasks such as patent registrations, industrial designs, training and sharing best practices. This cooperation highlights collaborative efforts to develop the economy in the context of rapid technological advancements, in addition to facilitating mutual recognition of intellectual property rights.”

The MOU’s main features include cooperation efforts to enhance IP governance, capacity-building programs for Cambodian authorities and the ongoing re-registration of Singaporean patents in Cambodia. Additionally, the agreement makes it easier to employ technical and financial resources to improve Cambodia’s industrial design registration and patenting procedures. 

A 10-year collaboration between Cambodia’s MISTI and Singapore’s IPO is reflected in the extension, which was signed in an online ceremony. It shows a common goal for innovation and the advancement of intellectual property systems in the area.

- Excel V. Dyquiangco