The Hindu Business Line : India, Switzerland sign MoU on intellectual property rights

The Union Minister for Commerce and Industry, Mr Kamal Nath, and the Swiss Federal Councillor & Minister for Economic Affairs, Ms Doris Leuthard, at a press conference after signing an agreement in the Capital on Tuesday. —

Our Bureau

New Delhi, Aug. 7

India and Switzerland on Tuesday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on protection of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR). The MoU was signed by the Union Commerce Minister, Mr Kamal Nath, and the visiting Swiss Federal Counsellor and Minister of Economic Affairs, Ms Doris Leuthard.

As per the MoU, a joint working group would be established to respond to questions relating to intellectual property, such as preventing the production, distribution and sale of counterfeit products, as well as raising awareness of the risks associated with these products.

Besides joint studies on intellectual property issues, the MoU also envisages exchange of views, information and experiences regarding the protection of intellectual property at the national level. The group would meet once a year in India or Switzerland alternatively.

“This (signing of MoU) demonstrates what we have always said that India is a country that respects intellectual property rights and geographical indications. India is not a country that anyway allows counterfeiting or production of fake products. It’s the credibility of India which is important for the world to notice. I hope it (MoU) would encourage Swiss industrialists to look at India more intensively for making investments here,” Mr Kamal Nath said at a press conference here.

On the progress made towards the proposed trade and investment agreement with EFTA countries (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland), Mr Nath said that the joint study group is likely to submit its report by November and that the negotiations are expected to begin from December.

Mr Nath said that he has conveyed to Ms Leuthard that India would be happy to move at whatever pace the EFTA countries decide on this matter. During their bilateral talks today, he also underscored the need for Switzerland to streamline business visa issues and certain social security levies.

Novartis case

Later, when asked to comment on the Novartis case, Mr Nath said that Madras High Court order was a judicial pronouncement and that he did not have any specific comment as it related to a particular company.

On whether Indian Patent law was fully WTO compliant, he said that “We believe our patent law is WTO compliant. Other countries also believe so because nobody has challenged this until now. We have had this law for two years”.

Bilateral trade ties

Commenting on the economic relations, Ms Leuthard said that she was happy with the economic relations between the two countries. She pointed out that the healthy trend in two-way trade seen in the previous few years was still continuing.

“In the first six months of 2007, Swiss exports to India has gone up by 30 per cent and Indian export to Switzerland has also increased by 27 per cent,” she added.

Ms Leuthard also said that the MoU on IPRs would enable both the countries to come together to fight against counterfeiting and piracy, which, she said, disturbs economic relations and investments.

More Stories on : Foreign Trade | IPR | WTO

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