The World Customs Organization (WCO), in collaboration with the Regional Intelligence Liaison Office (RILO) for the Asia/Pacific region, held a pivotal regional workshop recently, in Hanoi, Vietnam. 

The workshop focused on sharing best practices for combating counterfeiting and piracy in alignment with the Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Strategy adopted by the WCO.

Among the distinguished participants was IO3 Paul Oliver N. Pacunayen, Chief of the Intellectual Property Rights Division (IPRD) of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) Philippines. 

IO3 Pacunayen's presence at the workshop underscores his dedication to advancing global standards in protecting intellectual property rights and enhancing collaborative efforts to address the pressing issues of counterfeiting and piracy.

The workshop convened esteemed representatives from various customs administrations, industry experts, and international organizations from a diverse array of countries, including Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Korea, Fiji, Hong Kong (China), Japan, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Sri Lanka, Timor-Leste, Tonga, and Vietnam. Participants actively engaged in robust discussions and knowledge-sharing sessions to fortify regional and global strategies against intellectual property violations. The agenda encompassed in-depth case studies, interactive panels, and collaborative exercises meticulously crafted to cultivate a comprehensive understanding of effective enforcement measures and innovative approaches to IPR protection.