UAE, Indonesia Sign MoU on Tourism

UAE and Indonesia seal agreements to enhance cooperation in the field of creative economy and increase mutual support in the fields of architecture, fashion, design, and fine arts between the two countries - WAM
UAE and Indonesia seal agreements to enhance cooperation in the field of creative economy and increase mutual support in the fields of architecture, fashion, design, and fine arts between the two countries - WAM
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UAE, Indonesia Sign MoU on Tourism

UAE and Indonesia seal agreements to enhance cooperation in the field of creative economy and increase mutual support in the fields of architecture, fashion, design, and fine arts between the two countries - WAM
UAE and Indonesia seal agreements to enhance cooperation in the field of creative economy and increase mutual support in the fields of architecture, fashion, design, and fine arts between the two countries - WAM

The United Arab Emirates signed on Wednesday a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and technical agreement with the Republic of Indonesia to support cooperation in the areas of creative economy, tourism, environmental conservation and logistics at the UAE-Indonesia Business Forum entitled "Amazing Week 2021".

The deal aims to enhance cooperation in the field of creative economy and increase mutual support in the fields of architecture, fashion, design, and fine arts between the two countries.

This comes in addition to exchanging experiences on developing methods of financing the creative economy, state news agency WAM reported.

The UAE delegation included Suhail Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, Noura bint Mohammed Al Kaabi, Minister of Culture and Youth, Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Chief Executive Officer of DP World, Mubarak Al Nakhi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Culture and Youth, and representatives from a number of high-level entities in the UAE.

Noura Al Kaabi and Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno, Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy of the Republic of Indonesia, signed the MoU on cooperation in the field of creative economy.

Mubarak Al Nakhi and Wisnu Bawa Tarunajaya, Deputy Minister for Resources and Institutionality, signed the technical agreement on hosting the World Creative Economy Conference 2021 in Dubai as part of Expo 2020 Dubai, scheduled in October 2021.

The conference will include a meeting of officials, academics, business owners, and representatives of governments, international bodies, and the media to shape future creative economic policies.

Following the signature of the MoU, Al Kaabi said: "The UAE and Indonesia are exemplars of religious and cultural diversity, tolerance and moderation. These are the values that bind us together and enable us to cooperate for our common interests, especially in the sphere of creative economy, which is a pillar of sustainable economic growth."

"As the world is going through a challenging time due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we need to turn challenges into opportunities for innovation,'' Al Kaaber added.

''The MoU signed between our two countries will provide us a new opportunity to strengthen our bilateral ties and mutual cooperation in various spheres, including in the cultural and creative sectors,"

For his part, Hussein Baqis, Indonesian Ambassador to the UAE, said: "I believe the MoU on cooperation in the field of creative economy will open many opportunities between both countries to share ideas as well as experiences for the advancement of creative economy industries in both countries. I am optimistic that Indonesia and the UAE can play a bigger role in economic recovery through creative economy industries."

Other agreements signed between the two sides included industrial and commercial cooperation agreements, a logistics passport agreement with businesses in the UAE, and a joint venture development agreement with DP World.



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.