On September 18, the President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov held a regular meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers via digital system, at which a number of state affairs issues were considered.
Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers, Minister of Foreign Affairs Rashid Meredov reported on the ongoing work to expand Turkmenistan's cooperation with international organizations in the field of intellectual property. This was reported by the State News Agency of Turkmenistan.
As noted, further enhancing the significance of the intellectual property system in the country's innovative and economic development, improving the national legislative framework in accordance with international standards, and ensuring effective protection of copyright have been identified among the key directions of state policy pursued by the President of Turkmenistan. The main document in this area is the "Concept for the Development of the Intellectual Property System of Turkmenistan for 2026–2052," approved by the head of state.
During the continuation of the meeting, proposals aimed at fulfilling the tasks defined in this Concept were voiced. In particular, they concern issues related to studying advanced experience in this field and applying it in our country, enhancing the professionalism of national specialists, and further expanding international cooperation in the field of intellectual property with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the Eurasian Patent Organization (EAPO).
As was reported, it is proposed to hold, jointly with EAPO, a seminar in Ashgabat titled "Promoting Innovative Development and Inventiveness – Regional and Global Opportunities." The agenda will include issues of intellectual property protection, registration of inventions, their introduction into production, as well as ways to expand international cooperation in this area. The event is expected to be attended by representatives of state structures, higher education institutions, research institutions, the private sector, and specialists from the Eurasian Patent Organization.
Along with this, a proposal was voiced regarding the participation of a delegation of Turkmenistan in the upcoming 48th session of the Administrative Council of EAPO, as well as in the international forum on intellectual property, which will be held on October 21–23 of this year in the city of Dushanbe (Republic of Tajikistan). Within the framework of these events, issues of further strengthening partnership with the Eurasian Patent Organization and relevant agencies will be discussed.
Turkmenistan has been a member of EAPO since 1995, and in 2025 chaired the Administrative Council of this organization.
At the same time, as was reported, it is proposed that Turkmenistan join the "Memorandum of Understanding on the Eurasian Accelerated Patent Prosecution Program," which entered into force on January 1, 2025. Our country's accession to this program will make it possible to expand the exchange of experience between the national patent authority and relevant structures of foreign countries, reduce the duplication of examination procedures, and improve the efficiency of reviewing patent applications.
In addition, it is proposed that Turkmenistan join documents adopted within the framework of the World Intellectual Property Organization, in particular the "Trademark Law Treaty" of 1994 and the "Singapore Treaty on the Law of Trademarks" of 2006.
The objectives of these Treaties are to regulate the procedures for state registration of trademarks at the national and regional levels, as well as to simplify legally significant procedures for incoming applications in this area and bring them into line with the requirements of the time.
Along with this, it was mentioned that it would be advisable to carry out the necessary work on using a new tool developed by WIPO – the "Innovation Potential Navigator." In this connection, a proposal was voiced regarding the participation of a delegation of Turkmenistan in the 37th session of the Committee on Development and Intellectual Property of the World Intellectual Property Organization, which will be held in Geneva on November 16–20, 2026, and holding negotiations with representatives of relevant structures of this organization on the possibilities of this mechanism, the specifics of its use, and ways of applying it in our country.
Having heard the report, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov noted that our country, having joined international conventions and treaties on the protection of intellectual property, is taking effective measures in this direction. Having approved the proposals for developing Turkmenistan's cooperation with international organizations in the field of intellectual property, the head of state instructed the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs, to carry out the necessary work.
