20 Nov 2022

 Intellectual Property (IP) protection is crucial in aiding innovation and preserving locally produced goods and products.

Speaking at the launch of Chobe baskets brand launch on Friday, the Minister of Entrepreneurship, Mr Karabo Gare said the recently launched IP Policy was instrumental in ensuring that IP contributed to the country’s economy.

He said the Policy would protect and encourage unleashing of talent such as that of the Chobe basket weavers and in the process protect the innovators against anyone with intentions to reproduce their products.

He said in Botswana every district was known for its unique talent and urged those with the talents to share with the younger generation. He said in the instance of the baskets, the weavers provided basic needs for their households from the sales of the baskets. He said the launch of the trademark demonstrated the perfection by Chobe weavers and he encouraged them to continuously work towards improving the quality of their products instead of concentrating only on selling.

Minister Gare urged the Chobe Baskets Cooperatives Union’s seven-member cooperatives to approach Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency (CEDA) funding in order to grow their cooperatives and in the process create more employment opportunities.

He said Chobe baskets had the potential to diversify the country’s economy and had already penetrated the international markets such as Japan.

Mr Gare thanked the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) and the Japanese government through the Japan Patent Office for collaborating with the Department of Cooperatives in seeking to improve the livelihoods of basket weavers in Chobe through the effective use of IP system.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Ms Malebogo Morakaladi said two consignments from the Chobe weavers have been exported to Japan.

Ms Morakaladi said Batswana were talented and capable of producing globally competitive goods and her ministry would continue working with that of Entrepreneurship to nurture the local talent.

Mr Yoshida Kunihiko from the Japan Embassy said his country had contributed to WIPO fund since 1987  to help strengthen IP in Africa.

Mr Kunihiko said branding supported talent from developing countries and ensured that skill was passed from generation to generation.

He urged the Chobe basket weavers to consider availing their products in shops and kiosks in the malls.

Chobe baskets project expert, Mr Bathusi Lesolebe urged Chobe weavers to safeguard their trade mark and ensure only authorized people used it.

He implored the weavers to know the trademark, its colours, features, meaning and the class and goods registered under the trademark.

Mr Lesolebe encouraged the union to renew the trademark after every ten years adding that failure to renew meant anyone could register it as their own and use it.

A representative of the Chobe Baskets Cooperative Union, Ms Naledi Rugugu said basket weaving needed passion, commitment and patience because without those one could not produce good quality products.

She thanked all stakeholders who contributed to the realization of the brand registration. Ends