Between July 7-15, 2026, a three-member delegation from Bhutan, led by the Director of the Department of Media, Creative Industry and Intellectual Property (DoMCIIP), MoICE, participated in the 68th Series of Meetings of the Assemblies of the Member States of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in Geneva, Switzerland.
Bhutan’s participation at the 68th WIPO General Assemblies highlighted the Royal Government’s commitment to strengthening its intellectual property (IP) ecosystem. Through high-level plenary statements and targeted bilateral engagements, the delegation reinforced strategic partnerships to boost Bhutan’s creative industries, innovation landscape, and commercialization of local IP assets.
Key Highlights & Strategic Engagements
1. Active Plenary Participation
During the Assemblies, the delegation joined representatives from WIPO’s Member States to deliberate on global IP standards, multilateral policy development, and sustainable development frameworks. Bhutan commended WIPO’s continued technical support in expanding IP infrastructure for small and developing economies.
2. Bilateral Meetings with Member Countries
The delegation held several rounds of constructive bilateral discussions with counterpart IP offices from partner Member States. Key areas of discussion included:
- Cross-Border IP Protection: Exploring opportunities for legal framework harmonization and mutual recognition.
- Geographical Indications (GI) & Traditional Knowledge: Sharing best practices for protecting unique Bhutanese traditional cultural expressions, handicrafts, and agro-based products.
- Capacity Building & Technology Exchange: Establishing frameworks for technical cooperation, examiner training, and knowledge exchange.
3. Strategic Dialogues with WIPO Divisions & Regional Offices
In addition to state-level talks, the delegation met with leadership teams across key WIPO sectors, including the Regional and National Development Sector (RNDS) and the IP for Innovators & Business Division:
- National IP Strategy Execution: Aligning WIPO’s assistance programs with Bhutan’s national development priorities and economic diversification goals.
- Support for Creative Communities: Expanding digital rights management and commercialization avenues for local film, music, literature, and digital content creators under the DoMCIIP umbrella.
- SME & Entrepreneurship Development: Leveraging WIPO diagnostic tools and branding strategies to help Bhutanese small and medium enterprises (SMEs) protect and scale their innovations globally.
The Department will focus on translating the outcomes and agreements from Geneva into actionable initiatives. Priority actions for the upcoming year include implementing targeted capacity-building workshops, advancing IP strategy frameworks, and creating accessible channels for local entrepreneurs and creative artists to safeguard their intellectual assets.
