WIPO Director General Daren Tang concluded a three-day official visit to Guatemala on October 20, 2024 where he met President Bernardo Arévalo, senior officials and other stakeholders for talks on strengthening the country’s innovation system. During his visit, Mr. Tang also attended a meeting of Ministers responsible for intellectual property (IP) from Central America and the Dominican Republic.

In his meeting with President Arévalo, Mr. Tang pledged WIPO’s support to implement projects that empower indigenous communities, women and youth — recognizing their critical role in preserving cultural heritage and driving innovation. They underscored the importance of protecting the traditional knowledge and creative expressions of Guatemala’s Indigenous Peoples through diverse means, including IP rights.

In particular, the Director General said projects would be designed to generate tangible impact for Indigenous Peoples — such as textile weavers, artisans, traditional medicine practitioners and community-led tourism ventures. The focus will be on leveraging IP for sustainable development, social inclusion and economic growth.

One of the key priorities, as highlighted by the President, will be to collaborate with the tourism sector to empower women in traditional weaving communities, ensuring their skills and cultural heritage are not only preserved but also serve as engines for economic empowerment and sustainable tourism.

Responding to the President’s concerns about biopiracy, Mr. Tang reiterated WIPO’s commitment to raising awareness and promoting the WIPO Treaty on Intellectual Property, Genetic Resources and Associated Traditional Knowledge (GRTK Treaty).