BANGKOK, General Chatchai Sarikulya, Minister of Commerce, announced at a press conference this week at the Ministry of Commerce, that Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn will grant an audience to Mr. Francis Gurry, the Director-General of WIPO for the presentation of the ‘WIPO Award for Creative Excellence’ on 27th August 2015. The nation and its people take great pride in this award.
Coincidentally, this year Thailand also celebrates the auspicious occasion of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn’s fifth cycle birthday.
The ‘WIPO Award for Creative Excellence’ to be presented to Her Royal Highness is the first of its kind to recognize Her Royal Highness’ creative contributions to sustainable development. Her Royal Highness is the first person to have received this award, says General Chatchai.
Mr. Francis Gurry, Director-General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) said that ‘Her Royal Highness has really been a champion in creativity and intellectual property, and we have seen that across a wide domain. HRH is the author of 350 creative works of poetry, writings, prose and illustrations. HRH has also been a champion of the protection of traditional knowledge. She also created the trademark ‘Phu Fa’ which is now very successfully displayed on the products of Phu Fa shops. In addition, HRH also promotes the protection of geographical indications, having encouraged the registration of Mlabri kitbags, which works in favor of the nomadic tribe in the North of Thailand to earn extra income from their crafts.’
“Her Royal Highness has been a champion of the preservation of genetic resources, having established in 1992, the Plant Genetic Conservation project. So, we see HRH’s contribution across a very wide and diverse range of creative activities. Her Royal Highness is a very accomplished and gifted musician, a champion of traditional music, and traditional musical instruments. Her Royal Highness as I mentioned is a gifted performer and true friend and champion of Thai musicians. It’s therefore entirely fitting and indeed an honor for WIPO to offer this award to Her Royal Highness.”
The Department of Intellectual Property, Ministry of Commerce has registered 354 works by Her Royal Highness which include 199 paintings, such as orchid paintings, ‘Phu Fa’ elephant paintings and another 153 literary works that include poems, children’s books, memoirs, songs, and much more.
In addition, the Department of Intellectual Property registered the trademark ‘Phu Fa’ and a geographical indication, which is a kitbag made from the Mlabri vine in Bo kluea, Wiangsa, Ban Luang and Mueang District of Nan Province in order to promote jobs and provide additional sources of income to the local communities.
The Minister of Commerce added that ‘Between 5th -14th October 2015, Thailand has been invited as a Country Guest of Honor to organize an exhibition of intellectual property of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn at the WIPO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. The exhibition will welcome 188 WIPO Members and over 1,000 representatives coming from the 55th WIPO General Assemblies’.
The World Intellectual Property Organization is an organization under the United Nations which is responsible for the promotion and management of intellectual property at a global level. WIPO also presented the Global Leaders’ Award on Intellectual Property, to His Majesty the King in 2009.
