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The Workshop on the Implementation of Article 66.2 of TRIPS provided an opportunity for dialogue and coordination between developed country members reporting technology transfer incentives and intended LDC beneficiaries. The three-day event also provided an opportunity to improve the use of this transparency mechanism to promote incentives for transfer of technology so as to respond more effectively to the technological needs identified by LDCs.

Article 66.2 of the TRIPS Agreement calls on developed countries to provide incentives to enterprises and institutions for the purpose of promoting and encouraging technology transfer to LDCs in order to enable them to create a sound and viable technological base.

In opening remarks, WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala stressed the importance of this workshop at a time when the current global health crisis has set aside any lingering uncertainty about the significance of technology for development. “This series of workshops has been increasingly helpful in providing a more informal and interactive forum for LDC members to review and analyse the extensive, complex information that has been provided by developed country members,” she said. “As we come to understand more and more the critical need for a sound and viable technological base as a foundation for sustainable development, this process has become all the more important for LDCs.”

The Director-General noted the current urgent work in the WTO on the TRIPS dimension of access to vaccines and other COVID technologies which has underlined the importance of increased and diversified production capacity, especially in LDCs.

“LDCs have been hit hard by the social, economic and trade impacts of the pandemic. In some cases these impacts have set back development progress that will doubtlessly frustrate the attainment of the sustainable development goals. Thus, it is very timely to reflect on new challenges confronting LDCs and how the WTO, including the implementation of the TRIPS Agreement, can help LDCs overcome the current crisis and ensure sustainable development,” she added. 

The Chair of the TRIPS Council, Ambassador Dagfinn Sørli of Norway, said this workshop has become an indispensable part of the collective follow-up on the objectives and obligations outlined in Article 66.2. Ambassador Sørli noted the experience gained after 25 years of TRIPS Agreement enforcement, which has allowed members to learn a few things: technology transfer can be complicated; there are not quick fixes around this issue; and the needs and priorities of focus for both individual LDC and developed members vary quite different.

“This workshop provides a unique opportunity for informal dialogue between the various partners involved in our common endeavour,” he said. “Developed members need to understand the needs and priorities of LDC members and need to listen to their experiences. The sharing of experiences and identifying best practices should assist members in learning from each other, enabling members to target their incentives in a way that responds effectively to the needs of individual LDCs.”

Speaking on behalf of the LDC Group, Ambassador Ahmad Makaila of Chad, expressed his appreciation for the direct involvement of the Director-General in the workshop and welcomed the workshop's focus on key LDC issues, such as the environment, health and agriculture. He also thanked developed country members for submitting annual reports and confirmed that the LDC Group will soon share their feedback outlining specific points of concern as well as priority needs.

He further mentioned the difficulty in understanding in those reports what specific technology has been transferred: “In this regard, LDCs have provided a template to help developed country members report on technology transfer to LDCs accurately and clearly. LDCs appreciate the fact that many developed country members have recently started to submit reports in this format.”

LDCs participated in a voluntary survey developed by the WTO Secretariat to highlight their priorities for technology transfer, which will allow them to continue the dialogue with developed country members. Participants, including cooperation partners from developed country members, expressed appreciation for the thematic approach of the workshop, which provided more clarity on the issues and a deeper exchange.

Geneva and capital-based government officials from 21 LDCs and seven developed countries as well as around 60 experts from international organizations, academia and the private sector participated in the event.

The workshop also significantly benefitted from presentations made by partner organizations, including the Climate Technology Centre & Network , the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change , the United Nations Technology Bank, the United Nations Environment Programme  the World Health Organization  and the World Intellectual Property Organization.

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