PRESS RELEASE

 Ho Chi Minh City General Sciences Library and the U.S.-Vietnam Trade Council Collaborate to Open an Intellectual Property Rights Reference Collection

 16 January 2004 - Ho Chi Minh City:  The General Sciences Library and the U.S.-Vietnam Trade Council Education Forum are pleased to announce the establishment of an Intellectual Property Rights Reference Collection in Ho Chi Minh City. 

 To promote the development of resources, information and understanding about intellectual property rights (IPR) in Vietnam, the General Sciences Library and the U.S.-Vietnam Trade Council are putting together a reference collection for IPR law in Vietnam’s business hub.  This collection will be housed in a section of the General Science Library and maintained specifically for textbooks, journals, laws and other resources on intellectual property rights, protection and enforcement.   Visitors to the library will be able to study and conduct research on issues ranging from the drafting history of the WTO TRIPS Agreement, to IPR issues affecting developing countries, and unfair competition issues affecting businesses, including technological and agri-business.   

 “Strong IPR protection and enforcement is vital for U.S. companies in Vietnam, Vietnamese companies with overseas operations, and Vietnamese companies developing products for their domestic market,” said Virginia Foote, President of the U.S.-Vietnam Trade Council.     “Protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights is also a key chapter in the U.S.-Vietnam Bilateral Trade Agreement and will be important in Vietnam’s efforts to join the World Trade Organization (WTO).  We hope that this collection will provide a tool to enhance both public awareness and an effective understanding of this critical issue.”  

 Beginning 19 January 2004, this resource will be accessible to the public and judges, lawyers, businesses, academics, and others interested in IPR development.  In early Spring 2004, the General Science Library and Trade Council hope to organize workshops and seminars featuring leading IPR experts, to facilitate the use and development of materials in the library.     

The U.S.-Vietnam Trade Council has worked on economic and political normalization between the two countries since 1989.  Its educational affiliate, the U.S.-Vietnam Trade Council Education Forum, has since 1997 helped to provide technical assistance to Vietnam on issues relating to the U.S.-Vietnam Bilateral Trade Agreement, WTO Accession, and international global integration.  For additional information, please contact the Trade Council in Washington or visit our website at http://old.usvtc.org.