As a final stop in my work within the WIPO System for the International Protection of Geographical Indications, I could not have hoped for a more meaningful experience than last week’s workshops in Djibouti. I have always thought of Geographical Indications (GIs) not only as a powerful Intellectual Property right but also as a lens onto a journey, a caravan that leads us through the wonderful diversity of places, drawing from the boundless creativity of the people who inhabit them. Behind every product lies a story; behind every name, a place, an identity, and a community of ideas and traditions that become the future. The distinctive Salt of Lac Assal, together with emblematic products such as dates from the Tadjourah region, traditional palm-weaving crafts, and hand-embroidered textiles by local women artisans, reflects Djibouti’s strong potential for high-value GIs. And as a Party to the Geneva Act of the Lisbon Agreement, the country is well positioned to give its products an internationally recognized legal identity. My sincere thanks to His Excellency Mohamed Warsama Dirieh, Minister of Commerce and Tourism, Ahmed Mohamed Osman, Director General of ODPIC, and Abdourahman Hassan M. for their exceptional cooperation and hospitality; and to Emilie Vandecandelaere for sharing her insightful expertise and experience. Djibouti is laying solid foundations for a national GI ecosystem, and I am confident that its emblematic products will advance with success under the Geneva Act. Looking ahead to what comes next.
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