World Trade Center Goa and MSME Development Institute Goa jointly organized an awareness Programme on Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) on 17th December 2019, at Margao, Goa.

The Chief Guest , Mr. Joseph Mathew, President - Margao Industries Association and Managing Director of Elecon Constructions Pvt. Ltd, Goa , highlighted the importance of having a deep understanding of the IPR to ensure that a company's creativity in manufacturing goods and making available unique services can be legally enforced to prevent its competitors from copying and manufacturing of similar goods and services. He further said that as company's from Goa look for greater market share it becomes imperative for each of them to protect their intellectual property and opined that all firms must make it a practice to ensure that they are IPR Compliant.

Mr. Devaraj K, Director, MSME Development Institute, Goa, during his key note address, spoke on the various schemes, programmes and activities that his organization has organized and plans to organize in the coming year, with a view to extend Techno- Managerial and Economic Consultancy services for the development of MSMEs in Goa. He threw light on the Technical Services, common facility workshop and workshop based Skill Development Courses. Mr Devaraj also spoke on the Credit Link Capital Subsidy Scheme (CLCSS), Marketing Assistance for participation in Domestic and International Fairs / Exhibitions and Vendor Development Programmes. He encouraged all the MSMEs to consider to take active part in all the various activities and programme of the MSME Development Institute Goa.

The main speaker, Advocate Ms. Shalini Sitaraman Menezes, Director, SimSim Advisory Pvt. Ltd, made a detailed presentation of IPR, the concept, the classification and characteristics. She also explained the difference between Intellectual Property (IP) and Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) and detailed the different types of IPR along with the explanation on Copyright, Trademark and Patents. She concluded her presentation by touching upon the subject of Trade Secrets.

Mr. Cyril Desouza, Assistant Director, Trade Promotion, World Trade Center Goa, spoke on the upcoming activities and programmes that the Center is planning to organize shortly, namely,Women Entrepreneur Development Programme and Cluster specific programme for the Coconut related products and a trade delegation visit to Middle East. He also spoke on the network of the World Trade Centers Association which comprises of around 300 World Trade Centers in about 90 countries. Mr Desouza encouraged MSMEs to take advantage of this powerful business network to expand their global reach.

An active Q & A Session was organized on the occasion which provided the details on the various financial assistance schemes available for registering patents and trademark that were offered by the Government of India, Ministry of MSME through the MSME Development Institute.

Seen in the Picture :
Addressing : Mr. K. Devaraj , Director, MSME Development Institute, Goa.
Seated (L-R) Mr. Cyril Desouza, Assistant Director, Trade Promotion, WTC Goa, Ms. Shalini Sitaraman Menezes, Director, SimSim Advisory Pvt.Ltd, Mr. Joseph Mathew, President, Margao Industries Association & Managing Director, Elecon Constructions Pvt. Ltd and Ms. Deepa G. L. Deputy Director, MSME Development Institute Goa.