This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DJIBOUTI 000392 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR AF AND AF/E 
LONDON, PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHER 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV ECON EIND EINV DJ
SUBJECT: DJIBOUTI IS DRAFTING A SPECIAL LAW 
FOR INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS 
 
 
¶1. SUMMARY.  With the assistance of the 
World Intellectual Property Organization 
(WIPO), the Government of Djibouti (GoD) has 
initiated a project on Intellectual Property 
Rights (IPR), including a special law on IPR 
and an implementing office.  This endeavor 
is expected to boost confidence levels of 
potential foreign investors in Djibouti. 
END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2. A three-day national workshop on 
Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) was held 
March 6 in Djibouti, hosted by Rifki 
Abdoulkader Bamakhrama, Minister of Trade 
and Industry.  The seminar was conducted by 
a team from the World Intellectual Property 
Organization (WIPO) headed by Ms. Nahla 
Haidar, Director of the Office of Economic 
Development for Arab countries.  The 
Minister of Culture, the President of the 
Chamber of Commerce, Embassy and 
international organizations representatives 
attended the opening ceremony. 
 
¶3. In his opening speech, the Minister of 
Trade and Industry emphasized the importance 
of implementing WIPO rules to promote 
economic growth for the country.  The 
Minister added that the GoD was committed to 
create a healthy and efficient environment 
in order to reinforce the constitutional 
state. 
 
¶4. The WIPO team leader stressed that IPR is 
crucial for the social, economic and 
cultural development of a country.  Also, 
Djibouti's adoption of IPR laws will create 
a legal framework and favorable environment 
for national and foreign investment.  In 
addition, WIPO was here to renew its 
cooperation with the GoD.  WIPO assured 
Djibouti that its experts would accompany 
them through all their efforts in IPR 
related issues and will assist with action 
plans sized for Djibouti. 
 
¶5. Participants including lawyers, business 
owners, artists and inventors were 
introduced to the various concepts on IPR 
during the first two days of the workshop. 
Each presentation focused on a given topic 
and was followed by discussion and debate 
chaired by WIPO experts.  The last day was 
dedicated to the presentation of the IPR 
project, which consisted of the creation of 
an IPR law taking into consideration 
Djibouti specifics, and the establishment of 
a local institution under the Ministry of 
Trade and Industry, in charge of IPR. 
 
¶6. During the workshop, staff of the 
Ministry of Trade & Industry and WIPO 
experts formed a local committee responsible 
for drafting a law on IPR.  This committee, 
comprised of government staff, business 
community and members of the civil society 
was then divided into four groups tasked 
with discussing four different themes 
associated to IPR.  The committee was given 
one month to come up with a draft law. 
 
¶7. At the conclusion of the three day 
seminar, the following priorities were 
noted: examining the draft law in a timely 
manner; creating an office to manage IPR 
related issues; training of the staff of the 
IPR office; supplying the office with 
computer equipment; increasing partnership 
between the GoD and the WIPO; initiating 
awareness programs for the people involved 
in IPR; and starting partnership with 
Djibouti's University, Science Research 
Center (CERD) and Education Research Center 
(CRIPEN) in order to incorporate and teach 
IPR in these institutions. 
 
¶8. COMMENT:  Djibouti's Civil Code, created 
in 1995 uses the French Civil Code as 
primary reference.   Thus, Djiboutian laws 
already provide enough IPR protection for 
the needs of a small country like Djibouti. 
By creating a special law on IPR and setting 
up an implementing institution, Djibouti 
expects to attract foreign investors by 
offering them a reliable legal framework on 
IPR, especially in view of the planned Free 
Zone in Doraleh. 
 
¶9. Abdourahman Youssouf, IPR Unit Chief at 
the Ministry of Trade and Industry 
participated in the Academy on the 
Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights 
in February 2006 held at Alexandria by the 
United States Patent and Trademark Office. 
Youssouf, one of the main organizers of the 
IPR workshop is expected to head the planned 
office of IPR.  Once it becomes operational, 
the office of IPR will also handle business 
registration, which is currently done at the 
Commercial Court.  END COMMENT