Dr. Sherif Farouk, Minister of Supply and Internal Trade, witnessed the signing of a joint cooperation protocol between the Internal Trade Development Authority (ITDA), headed by Dr. Mohamed Awad Ibrahim, and the Egyptian Intellectual Property Authority, headed by Dr. Hesham Azmi. The ceremony took place at the Ministry's headquarters in the New Administrative Capital, marking a significant step toward institutional integration and supporting the investment environment in Egypt.
The signing comes as part of the state's direction toward building an interconnected digital system between government entities. This integration aims to raise performance efficiency, develop services provided to investors and business owners, and support efforts to protect intellectual property (IP) rights and enforce the law within the Egyptian market.
The protocol stipulates providing Commercial Registry data to the Egyptian IP Authority, including information on establishments, activities, addresses, and legal entities. This allows the IP Authority to leverage this data to enhance examination and verification processes and support the protection of registered rights. Conversely, the protocol involves sharing data related to registered IP rights, such as patents, trademarks, and industrial designs, as published in the official IP bulletins.
This integration aims to create a unified and updated database that helps reduce cases of conflict or infringement on registered rights. It also supports decision-making based on accurate and reliable information and facilitates procedures for clients of both parties, reducing the time and effort required to meet regulatory requirements.
The digital linkage and data exchange are scheduled to be implemented through the Government Data Exchange Hub, under the supervision of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology. This ensures a secure process for information transfer and protection in accordance with approved technical standards and the highest levels of governance.
The protocol reflects the commitment of both organizations to support the state's digital transformation agenda, enhance transparency, and improve law enforcement efficiency—particularly in combating illegal commercial practices related to the infringement of intellectual property rights.
