EUIPO launches the second phase of CarIPI at a regional event in Belize
The European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) marked the official launch of the second phase of the CarIPI project with a regional event, held from 17-19 March in Belize City and Belmopan. The event, co-hosted by the Belize Intellectual Property Office (BELIPO), brought together representatives from the EUIPO, the EU Delegation to Barbados, the CARIFORUM IP Offices, and the coordinators of the EU-CARIFORUM Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), with the shared objective to strengthen regional collaboration on intellectual property (IP) and highlight its importance for sustainable economic development.
The opening day featured the official project launch and presentations on achievements under the first Annual Work Plan (AWP1), implemented from April 2025 until March 2026. This was followed by the formal endorsement of the second Annual Work Plan (AWP2), whose implementation will follow over the next 12 months.
On the second day, attention shifted to the role of Geographical Indications (GIs) in promoting sustainable tourism, rural development, and economic resilience in CARIFORUM countries. The day also marked the official start of the CarIPI II Mentorship Programme, building on successful GI experiences such as Trinidad and Tobago Steelpan and Saint Lucia Rum. Through keynote interventions, success stories, and interactive mentorship sessions, producer groups and institutions explored how origin-linked products can protect traditional knowledge and biodiversity, access premium markets, and generate value-added opportunities for the CARIFORUM countries.
The third day, held in Belmopan, focused on deepening participants’ understanding of international IP systems and supporting CARIFORUM countries in their efforts to adopt key treaties such as the Madrid Protocol, Hague Agreement, and Lisbon Agreement. Through expert panels featuring international speakers, representatives of CARIFORUM IP Offices, and private sector stakeholders, participants examined the benefits, challenges, and practical considerations of treaty accession. The day concluded with a study visit to BELIPO in Belmopan, offering hands-on insights into IP system implementation and management tools.
The second phase of the CARIFORUM Intellectual Property Rights and Innovation Project (CarIPI) runs from April 2025 for 48 months. Funded by the European Union, and co-funded and implemented by the EUIPO, it builds on the first CarIPI project to modernise and harmonise intellectual property (IP) systems in CARIFORUM States.