On Tuesday, the Government of El Salvador launched a national strategy focused on intellectual property with which it seeks to “generate more opportunities for creatives and entrepreneurs,” as reported by the Press Secretariat of the Presidency.
The so-called National Intellectual Property Strategy (ENPI) was presented by the head of the Ministry of Economy, María Luisa Hayem, with the accompaniment of the director of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Daren Tang.
According to the Presidency, “the initiative will make it easier for creators, entrepreneurs and entrepreneurs to protect their ideas, helping them to market them safely, which will boost the economy and employment generation.”
Hayem pointed out, according to the source, that they are “sure that there will be much benefit from this strategy, but one that is already tangible is that message that we are sending to local and international investors, of that importance that as the government of President (Nayib) Bukele we give to the protection of intellectual property.”
He said the central purpose of the strategy is to “promote creativity, innovation and invention, using intellectual property as an engine of economic growth” and seeks to ensure that creations have protection and opportunities to attract investment.
The strategy is the result of coordinated work among multiple public sector institutions. In addition, it has had the technical support and cooperation of WIPO, the Presidency said.
He added that the initiative will allow the creation of the new National Council for Intellectual Property, made up of the secretaries of Trade and Investment, and the Ministries of Economy, Culture, Tourism and Education, and the National Registration Centre. The Council had its first meeting.
The U.S. ambassador to El Salvador, William Duncan, reacted to this launch and congratulated the Salvadoran government “for this great step to boost innovation, protect intellectual property rights and promote economic growth,” he said in a message on X released by his embassy.
Last August, the Legislative Assembly approved the Intellectual Property Act, which seeks to “guarantee the protection of innovation and creativity,” and “facilitate the dissemination of information, knowledge, technology, culture and the arts.”
This article has been translated after first appearing in La Prensa Grafica