Nepal-USA Chamber Urges Government to Strengthen Intellectual Property Rights

The Nepal-USA Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NUSACCI) has called on the Government of Nepal, particularly the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies (MOICS), to implement commitments made during last year’s Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) Council Meeting.

Issuing a statement on Sunday, August 17, NUSACCI reminded that the TIFA meeting in September 2024 had highlighted the importance of effective intellectual property rights (IPR) protection and enforcement as a key factor in attracting trade and investment, particularly in IP-intensive industries.

NUSACCI emphasized that Nepal’s legal and institutional reforms in IPR, along with improvements in trademark administration and examination through technical capacity development, are essential to ensure consistency and reliability within the country’s Intellectual Property Office.

“NUSACCI has long been advocating for stronger IPR protection by organizing various seminars and workshops on IPR-related issues and raising awareness within the business community regarding the use and misuse of international and domestic company trademarks and labels,” said Sanjai K. Agrawal, General Secretary of NUSACCI, in the statement. He further noted that improper use of trademarks and counterfeit labels not only damages Nepal’s image domestically but also undermines its reputation internationally, thereby deterring potential foreign investment.

The chamber expressed support for a recent notice issued by Kathmandu Metropolitan City regarding the unauthorized use of trademarks and labels. NUSACCI urged all stakeholders to refrain from using international and domestic company trademarks and labels without proper authorization.