Dubai’s record of accomplishment in fighting piracy and combating counterfeiting is among the best in the world, according to its director general.
Ahmed Butti Ahmed’s comments came on the sidelines of the 4th Global Congress on Combating Counterfeiting and Piracy, which opened this morning and this year is taking place in Dubai, the first time the gathering was held outside Europe.
The congress gathered more than 1,000 of the world’s top customs officials to discuss and debate global best practices in the industry, with the aim of agreeing concrete new steps to fight the menacing issue of piracy.
Dubai Customs’ Director General, Ahmed Butti Ahmed said: “Dubai is a city of international firsts, where performance is measured on a global level. Where customs issues are concerned, we want Dubai to be universally recognized as the world’s leader in combating counterfeiting and piracy.”
“There are always new and improved international standards of operating, but at present, Dubai Customs has a record of achievement that can stand confidently against the very best in the world,” Ahmed added.
The congress began with a series of early morning keynote addresses touching on the issue of intellectual property rights, and was officially opened by HH Sheikh Ahmad Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation and Chairman of the Emirates Group today in the presence of Michel Danet, Secretary General of the World Customs Organization.
In his keynote address to delegates, the European Union’s Head of Intellectual Property, Luc Devigne, quoted a 2007 OECD report citing figures suggesting that the size of the global market for fake products could be as high as USD 200 billion each year.
Devigne added that Europe has witnessed a 500 percent increase year on year in the number of dangerous fake medicines coming across its borders.
Most fake products coming into Europe are medicines, followed by foodstuffs, toys, and cosmetics.
© 2008 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
