| South Centre in Media - 2007 |
Disparities Seen in Developing Countries’ TRIPS Implementation There are considerable differences in developing countries’ implementation of the World Trade Organization Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) and their use of flexibilities in it, according to speakers at a recent South Centre event. The 5 December panel entitled “The Implementation Game: Developing Countries; the TRIPS Agreement and the Global Politics of Intellectual Property” was part of a seminar series at the South Centre. Intellectual Property Watch (Geneva) December 11, 2007 Click here for full article. 
Trade Deal a Game of High Stakes An opinion piece written by Dr Yash Tandon, Executive Director of the South Centre, Geneva, appeared in the Business Daily (Nairobi). “In the next few days, our leaders will decide whether to sign a new trade agreement with Europe. It will be a tough judgment call. The decision they make will weigh heavily on the course of our region’s development for decades to come. We have a long history with Europe in the light of which we must interpret current events”. Business Daily (Kenya) November 22, 2007 Click here for full article. 
EPA Trade Deals Might Harm Africa An article written by Dr Yash Tandon, Executive Director of the South Centre, Geneva appears in the New Vision, Uganda’s online news service. “IN the next few days, our leaders will decide whether to sign a new trade agreement with Europe. It will be a tough judgment call. The decision they make will weigh heavily on the course of our region’s development for decades to come. For this reason, the proposed agreement needs very careful scrutiny.” New Vision (Uganda) November 21, 2007 Click here for full article. (free registration required)
EPAs: Our leaders need to hold strong in this high stakes game
In the next few days, our leaders will decide whether to sign a new trade agreement with Europe. I write this both as a national of Uganda, and in my capacity as the Executive Director of the South Centre, the only Intergovernmental think tank of the South. It will be a tough judgment call. November 21, 2007 Available at: http://www.newtimes.co.rw/index.php?issue=1355&article=2430  Challenges in Developing IP Sun Zhengyu, China's ambassador to the World Trade Organization, said intellectual property (IP) protection is key to development, but it is even more complicated for developing nations, so it is understandable that they may face more challenges. He made the remarks on October 9 at the South Center International Symposium: Examining IP Enforcement from a Development Perspective in Geneva, the Xinhua News Agency reports. China Daily October 23, 2007 Click here for full article. 
While increasing the proportion of biofuels in the fuel mix for motor vehicles is a step in the right direction, it is not the ''silver bullet'' that will break the world's dependence on fossil fuels, writes Vicente Paolo Yu III, coordinator of the Global Governance for Development Programme at the South Centre. IPS Columnist Service October 2007 Click here for full article.
Developing Countries Get Perspective on IP and Enforcement There is more to the story of enforcing intellectual property rights than one typically reads in the media, and developing country governments should defend themselves against unfair enforcement practices, officials and activists said recently. Speakers gave their views at a 9 October event of the intergovernmental South Centre entitled Examining IP Enforcement from a Development Perspective. Intellectual Property Watch (Geneva) October 22, 2007
Intellectual Property Rights Implementation of the International Strategy – a Seminar to Be Held in Geneva Representatives from China, Indonesia, Argentina and other developing countries, as well as the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and NGOs met at the Palace of Nations in Geneva for a symposium on Intellectual Property Enforcement organized by the South Centre. Ambassador Sun Zhenyu, China’s Permanent Representative to the WTO delivered a speech on the complexities of IPR protection and enforcement but also said that it is an essential issue for developing countries as it can promote development Xinhua International News Agency (China) October 10, 2007 Click here for full article. English Translation by Google Translator
No more a silver bullet There has been renewed interest in biofuels over the last five years or so, mainly in response to the significant rise and volatility of oil prices. The issue has become a major policy concern in the international debates on trade, energy and climate change. The South Centre, a think tank and intergovernmental organisation of developing countries, is equally engaged with this issue, from the perspective of developing countries. Recently it submitted joint comments to the European Commission together with the German NGO Forum on Environment and Development, the International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development, and the United Nations Foundation, in the context of the European Commission’s initiative to undertake public consultations on incorporating into new EU legislation a requirement that petrol and diesel contain 10 per cent biofuel by 2020 in the EU. Deccan Herald (India) October 9, 2007 Available at: http://www.deccanherald.com/CONTENT/Oct92007/editpage2007100829437.asp 
Demystifying Explosion in Patent Growth Rate There is increasing concern among policymakers and economists working on Intellectual Property (IP) issues over the conclusions drawn in the recent World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Patent Report 2007. In one such instance highlighting the problems associated with patent applications being treated as an innovation indicator, Dr. Xuan Li, Lead Economist and Acting Coordinator and Yogesh Pai, South Centre have provided insights to critical challenges which remain to be tackled in the WIPO report. IP-News Agency September 30, 2007 Click here for full article.
Tailor the Development Approach to Local Conditions An article by Benjamin W. Mkapa, former President of Tanzania (1995-2005) and currently the Chairman of the South Centre, Geneva appeared in the IPS Columnist Service. “This is a decisive moment for LDCs -- indeed all developing countries -- to commit themselves to a strategy of depending on themselves to reduce poverty by scaling-up their own efforts and maximising the efficient and effective use of their own resources. In particular, this requires the integration their various Diasporas into resource mobilisation plans, implementation of programmes that liberate the poor through property rights reform,and the formation of new links with other nations of the South, particularly the newly industrialising economies like India, China, and Turkey. As Malawian conventional wisdom states: He who splits his own firewood warms himself twice!” Intellectual Property Watch (Geneva) August, 2007 Click here for full article. 
South Centre joins the fray, calling for an open process A statement issued by the South Centre, an intergovernmental organisation of developing countries, has joined the fray on the IMF leadership selection issue. Benjamin Mkapa, the former Tanzanian president and the Chairperson of the South Centre board makes a call for selecting the IMF's next Managing Director through an open, transparent, and merit-based process. IFIwatchnet (Uruguay) August 8, 2007 Click here for full article. 
Institute for Studies in Industrial Development Campus Inauguration
On May 1, 2007 Dr. Yash Tandon, Executive Director of the South Centre, Geneva took part in the campus inauguration of the Institute for Studies in Industrial Development (ISID) in New Delhi, India. The meeting was attended by the Prime Minister of India Dr Manmohan Singh and the Board Members of the ISID. Dr Tandon delivered the Foundation Day Lecture on “The New Drivers for Global Change: Challenges and Responsibilities”. Press Release ISID (India) May 1, 2007 Click here for full article.
China Matches Words with Deeds Benjamin W. Mkapa made remarks about China’s indisputable record of matching promises with action and welcomed the Sino-African partnership while visiting the country for the South Centre board meeting. Mkapa is the former President of Tanzania and currently the Chairman of the Geneva-based intergovernmental organisation. "We must not let our Chinese friends down as the pledges consist of great sacrifices to China, a country also engaged in the fight against poverty," Mkapa said. China Daily February 1, 2007 Click here for full article.
|
