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Ballard Partners Seeks to Open Office in Saudi Arabia

Brian Ballard, founder and president of the US Ballard Partners (Photography: Abdul Rahman Al-Salem)
Brian Ballard, founder and president of the US Ballard Partners (Photography: Abdul Rahman Al-Salem)
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Ballard Partners Seeks to Open Office in Saudi Arabia

Brian Ballard, founder and president of the US Ballard Partners (Photography: Abdul Rahman Al-Salem)
Brian Ballard, founder and president of the US Ballard Partners (Photography: Abdul Rahman Al-Salem)

Ballard Partners, the American Government Relations Company,  announced its intention to open its first office in Riyadh. The US company’s move comes after the Saudi Council of Ministers agreed to allow foreigners to practice the legal profession in the Kingdom.

 

Brian Ballard, founder and president of Ballard Partners, said in an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, shortly before his departure from Riyadh, that he received a great welcome from the government, adding that he was excited about the possibility of opening an office in the country.

 

He revealed that his company has found in Abdullah Al-Meleihi, Chairman of Saudi Excellence Company, a reliable partner through which it will enter the Saudi business environment.

 

Ballard expressed his astonishment at the outcome of the programs launched by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, through Vision 2030, which he said revitalized the business environment and attracted international investors.

 

Asked about the meetings he held in Riyadh, the president of Ballard Partners said that the purpose of his visit was to explore work opportunities in the country, adding that he discussed with Saudi officials means to best serve the customers by opening the firm’s first office in Saudi Arabia.

 

Ballard noted that he was very impressed by the opportunities offered not only to his company, but also to the clients it represents.

 

Underlining the importance of the Saudi endeavor to attract foreign firms, he indicated that the reforms, which have regulated all aspects of business activities in the Kingdom, were very meaningful and transparent to the point that any company can come and find a suitable environment to launch its business.

 

Ballard stressed that major US firms, accounting firms, as well as companies providing professional services, have a prosperous business future in Saudi Arabia, expecting the coming period to witness more American investments in the country.

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Saudi Arabia Makes History with Adoption of Riyadh Treaty on Design Law

Photo of the Riyadh Diplomatic Conference on the Design Law Treaty (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Photo of the Riyadh Diplomatic Conference on the Design Law Treaty (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Arabia Makes History with Adoption of Riyadh Treaty on Design Law

Photo of the Riyadh Diplomatic Conference on the Design Law Treaty (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Photo of the Riyadh Diplomatic Conference on the Design Law Treaty (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Arabia has made history by uniting the 193 member states of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) to adopt the Riyadh Treaty on Design Law. This landmark achievement, realized after two decades of deliberation, underscores the Kingdom’s leadership in enhancing the global intellectual property system.

The announcement came at the conclusion of the Riyadh Diplomatic Conference on the Design Law Treaty, a rare event for WIPO, which has not held a diplomatic conference outside Geneva for more than a decade. It was also the first such event hosted in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East, representing the final stage of negotiations to establish an agreement aimed at simplifying and standardizing design protection procedures across member states.

Over the past two weeks, intensive discussions and negotiations among member states culminated in the adoption of the Riyadh Treaty, which commits signatory nations to a unified set of requirements for registering designs, ensuring consistent and streamlined procedures worldwide. The agreement is expected to have a significant positive impact on designers, enabling them to protect their creations more effectively and uniformly across international markets.

At a press conference held on Friday to mark the event’s conclusion, CEO of the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property Abdulaziz Al-Suwailem highlighted the economic potential of the new protocol.

Responding to a question from Asharq Al-Awsat, Al-Suwailem noted the substantial contributions of young Saudi men and women in creative design. He explained that the agreement will enable their designs to be formally protected, allowing them to enter markets as valuable, tradable assets.

He also emphasized the symbolic importance of naming the convention the Riyadh Treaty, stating that it reflects Saudi Arabia’s growing influence as a bridge between cultures and a global center for innovative initiatives.

The treaty lays critical legal foundations to support designers and drive innovation worldwide, aligning with Saudi Arabia’s vision of promoting international collaboration in the creative industries and underscoring its leadership in building a sustainable future for innovators.

The agreement also advances global efforts to enhance creativity, protect intellectual property, and stimulate innovation on a broader scale.

This achievement further strengthens Saudi Arabia’s position as a global hub for groundbreaking initiatives, demonstrating its commitment to nurturing creativity, safeguarding designers’ rights, and driving the development of creative industries on an international scale.

The Riyadh Diplomatic Conference, held from November 11 to 22, was hosted by the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property and attracted high-ranking officials and decision-makers from WIPO member states.