IP Protection could Help Small Business, WTO Meet Concludes
·
The WTO Informal Working Group on MSMEs met on 2
October to discuss how intellectual property (IP) can help small businesses
innovate, grow and access international markets.
·
The Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys UK
stressed that many MSMEs are unaware of the IP tools available to protect and
commercialize their ideas.
·
Colombia’s Nanofreeze
shared how patent protection for its passive refrigeration technology helped
attract investment, win clients and grow its business.
·
The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)
outlined tools for MSMEs, including its Global Entrepreneurship Empowerment
Programme, which offers resources and mentorship. Members also heard about
Ghana’s protection of Kente cloth as a geographical indication and IP use in
Hungary’s Tokaj wine sector.
·
Belize’s Marie Sharp’s Fine Foods was featured as
an example of a family business combining branding, product quality and export
capability to build international recognition.
·
The Enhanced Integrated Framework reported that its
third phase, launched at MC14 and running through 2031, has supported around
35,000 MSMEs and helped generate an estimated US$1.1 billion in exports.
·
The International Trade Centre introduced an
environmental, social and governance module for the Global Trade Helpdesk to
help businesses prepare for sustainable trade.
·
Switzerland will host the second Global SME
Ministerial Meeting in Geneva from 25 to 27 May 2027.
·
Members heard about a proposed ISO work item to
improve cooperation between business support organizations and standards
bodies.
·
UN Trade and Development previewed the World
Investment Forum in Doha, scheduled for 25–27 October 2026, and shared analysis
of how Strait of Hormuz disruptions could affect MSMEs.
·
Japan and Uruguay also shared updates on
trade-related proposals and policies supporting MSMEs, including
digitalization, trade facilitation and access to finance.
The
Informal Working Group on Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) met
on 2 October, with a focus on the practical role of intellectual property (IP) in
helping small businesses innovate, grow and reach international markets. The meeting
included an information session on IP tools and thematic presentations from members,
international organizations and stakeholders. Several members reported on MSME initiatives
in formal WTO committees.
The
Coordinator of the Group, Ambassador Matthew Wilson of Barbados, welcomed an information
session by the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys UK (CIPA UK) on "demystifying
IP", which emphasized that while intellectual property can be a game changer
for MSMEs, many firms are not always aware of the IP tools they need to protect
and commercialize their ideas. As part of the session, Isabel Pulido, founder of
Nanofreeze, described how patent protection for the Colombian
company's passive refrigeration technology helped unlock investment, secure clients
and support business growth.
In
the thematic discussion on IP that followed, a representative from the World Intellectual
Property Organization (WIPO) presented tools and services available to MSMEs seeking
to protect, manage, and commercialize their IP. WIPO presented their Global Entrepreneurship
Empowerment Programme (GEEP) as a one-stop shop with their full offerings for business,
organized around an entrepreneur's journey and complemented by mentorship. Members
also heard from Ghana on the protection of Kente cloth as a geographical indication,
with support from WIPO, and from Peter Molnar of the Tokaj Council of Wine Communities
on the use of IP tools in the wine sector.
The
meeting's "MSME Spotlight" - which showcases diverse entrepreneurial experiences
- featured Marie Sharp's Fine Foods of Belize, a family-owned company known for
its hot sauces, jams, jellies, seasonings and juices. The company's experience illustrated
how a small business can combine branding, product quality and export capability
to build an internationally recognized enterprise.
Aissatou
Diallo, Executive Director of the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF), briefed members
on EIF Phase Three, launched at MC14 and running to 2031. She said the new phase
has already had significant achievements supporting around 35,000 MSMEs with an
estimated USD 1.1 billion exports generated and initiatives to strengthen MSME competitiveness.
The
International Trade Centre shared its just-launched environmental, social, governance
(ESG) module for the Global Trade Helpdesk to help users prepare for sustainable
trade. Anna Jakowska-Ericksson said sustainability is one of the major drivers of
business transformation and the new tools will help simplify the process for MSMEs.
The ITC also updated members on preparations for the second Global SME Ministerial
Meeting, which Switzerland will host in Geneva from 25 to 27 May 2027. The event
is expected to draw ministers, senior officials, entrepreneurs and private-sector
representatives.
Jack
Yao of the Organization for Trade Development and Standards Cooperation presented
work on ISO/IWA 51, a new International Organization for Standardization work item
on synergy between business support organizations and standards development organizations.
He said the proposal aims to strengthen practical cooperation between business support
organizations and standards bodies and invited members to contribute national experiences
and case studies to support the work.
A
representative from UN Trade and Development briefed members on the forthcoming
World Investment Forum in Doha from 25 to 27 October 2026, including the Ministerial
Roundtable on Entrepreneurship, and on its analysis of the potential impact of disruptions
in the Strait of Hormuz on MSMEs in its report.
Under
other reporting, Japan updated members on its proposal to the Committee on Trade
and Development on "Trade as an Engine for Economic Growth" and invited
MSME Group members to consider contributing their experience-sharing inputs. Uruguay
also shared reference points from its recent Trade Policy Review, including the
central role of MSMEs in its economy and policies supporting digitalization, trade
facilitation and access to finance.