Date:06/04/2005 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/04/06/stories/2005040602311700.htm

Back Need to bring handicrafts under IPR highlighted

Our Bureau

OLD IS GOLD: A student of the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), Hyderabad, displays century-old handcrafted items of Mizoram at NIFT on Tuesday. The institute is hosting a three-day seminar on `Importance of Intellectual Property Rights for Handicrafts' from Tuesday. - A. Roy Chowdhury

Hyderabad , April 5

GLOBALISATION should be seen as an opportunity rather than a threat, according to the former Deputy Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), Mr Shahid Ali Khan.

He said the future belongs to the two lions of Asia: India and China. While India is a lion with liberty and without discipline, China is a lion with discipline and without liberty.

Mr Khan was speaking at a national seminar on the `Importance of intellectual property rights for handicrafts,' organised by National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) and WIPO, here.

Mr B. Kripanandam, Secretary, Industry and Commerce, said NIFT was helping revive traditional handlooms and handicrafts, making them more marketable. He extended his support to the Cluster Development Initiative (CDI) by NIFT.

Ms Gauri Kumar, Director General of NIFT, underlined the importance of protecting Indian handicrafts and handlooms as an intellectual property and geographical indicators.

In his welcome address, Mr Guriqbal Singh Jaiya, Director of the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) Division of the WIPO, Geneva, underlined the need and context for protection of traditional handicrafts of India.

There was an impressive display of handicrafts from the North-East, Andhra Pradesh and products developed by students as part of different projects.