Cambodia signs WIPO deal to launch first IP Business Center among LDCs

GENEVA, July 7, 2026 (KPT) – Cambodia has become the first Least Developed Country (LDC) to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) to establish an Intellectual Property Business Center (IPBC), officials said Monday.

The agreement was signed in Geneva by Cham Nimul, Cambodia’s Minister of Commerce, and WIPO Director General Daren Tang, following a bilateral meeting on expanding cooperation in intellectual property (IP), innovation and entrepreneurship.

The new IPBC will support Cambodia’s private sector by raising awareness of the benefits of IP protection and helping businesses—particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)—leverage IP to boost competitiveness and create value.

Nimul thanked WIPO for its continued technical assistance, noting progress in IP administration, digital transformation, innovation promotion and SME support. The two sides also reviewed the successful implementation of the Appropriate Technology Project and the IP for Tourism Project, which have helped commercialize local knowledge and products.

Both parties reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening regional and international cooperation, stressing that IP should serve as a catalyst for innovation, competitiveness and sustainable economic growth.

Cambodia’s Ministry of Commerce said the MoU reflects the country’s growing commitment to building a knowledge-based economy by reinforcing IP protection and encouraging innovation across public and private sectors.

As the first LDC to establish an IP Business Center through a formal partnership with WIPO, Cambodia is expected to provide a model for integrating IP into enterprise development and economic transformation in developing economies.