Oman joins the World Intellectual Property Organisation’s Lisbon Agreement

The Sultanate of Oman has deposited the instruments for joining the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO)’s Lisbon Agreement for the Protection of Appellations of Origin and Geographical Denomination.

H.E. Idris Abdulrahman al-Khanjari, Permanent Representative of the Sultanate to the United Nations (UN) and International Organisations in Geneva, said that the Sultanate’s government attaches a great importance to the protection of unique qualities of products of Omani origin, including the outputs of Omani soil, climate and cultural heritage.

Al-Khanjari added that upon the Sultanate’s joining the Lisbon Agreement, the producers of Omani origin products, such as the famous Omani khanjars or daggers (particularly the Sa'eedi Khanjar), Omani halwa (sweets), Omani lemon products, the breeders of abalone, mountain goats, Batinah plain goats and other artisans have wider scope for marketing their products at a global level and that consumers may confidently purchase those unique Omani products and discover their outstanding qualities.

Al-Khanjari pointed out that the Sultanate joining the Geneva-based Lisbon Agreement will act as an incentive to producers to increase production. He noted that the move will provide protection to the Sultanate against any breach of its rights and allow the country to promote its unique geographic denominations, which reflects positively on the Omani economy.