Saturday, 18 July 2026
Egypt, Sweden discuss boosting cooperation on intellectual property, pharmaceutical industry
The head of Egypt’s Intellectual Property Authority met Sweden’s ambassador in Cairo to discuss strengthening cooperation on intellectual property protection and supporting the pharmaceutical and industrial sectors, the authority said in a statement.
Hesham Azmy, president of the Egyptian Intellectual Property Authority, received Ambassador Dag Juhlin‑Dannfelt at the authority’s headquarters in the New Administrative Capital. The meeting explored ways to expand cooperation between the two countries in intellectual property, innovation, investment and industry, the statement said.
Azmy stressed that Egypt places strong importance on intellectual property as a foundation for sustainable development and a knowledge‑based economy. He said the authority is working to build an integrated and efficient system for protecting IP rights and facilitating registrations in line with Egyptian law, international commitments and global best practices.
He added that the authority plays a key role in supporting investment by ensuring a secure environment for innovators, investors, patent holders and trademark owners — contributing to attracting foreign investment and boosting global confidence in Egypt’s IP framework.
Azmy noted that Egypt is witnessing major growth in national industry, particularly pharmaceuticals and technology, as the state works to localize drug production and strengthen national pharmaceutical security. He said the authority is committed to providing full legal protection for qualifying innovations to support technology transfer, industrial localization and economic competitiveness.
The two sides discussed opportunities for cooperation in expertise exchange, capacity building and developing IP protection mechanisms, which could support economic and investment partnerships and open new pathways for Swedish companies in Egypt’s industrial, technological and pharmaceutical sectors.
Ambassador Juhlin‑Dannfelt praised Egypt’s efforts to modernize its IP system and strengthen the investment climate, saying the country’s recent institutional and legislative reforms reflect “a clear vision for building a modern, knowledge‑based economy.”
He commended Egypt’s establishment of a unified national intellectual property authority covering patents, utility models, trademarks, industrial designs, copyrights and plant varieties, describing it as a “distinguished international model” that required significant institutional coordination.
The ambassador said a strong IP system is essential for attracting foreign investment and reassuring companies looking to expand in promising markets. European and Swedish firms, he noted, pay close attention to IP protection when choosing investment destinations and have observed Egypt’s growing commitment to enforcement.
He added that Egypt has strong potential to host more industrial and technological investment, particularly in pharmaceuticals, expressing confidence in Egypt’s ability to protect IP rights and support deeper economic partnerships, technology transfer and industrial localization.
Both sides agreed to maintain close coordination in the coming period to strengthen Egyptian‑Swedish relations, promote innovation and technology transfer, and encourage high‑value investment that supports sustainable economic development and reinforces Egypt’s position as a regional hub for intellectual property protection.
The meeting is part of the authority’s push to expand international cooperation and help implement Egypt’s national IP strategy under Vision 2030, the statement said.