Maseru, Jan.09 — The High Commissioner of the Republic of Singapore, resident in South Africa, Mr. Zainal Arif Mantaha, paid a courtesy call on the Ministry of Law and Justice through the Registrar General’s Office, marking a significant milestone in diplomatic and institutional relations between the Kingdom of Lesotho and the Republic of Singapore.
This visit provided a platform for the two sides to exchange views on matters of mutual interest, strengthen bilateral cooperation, and explore opportunities for collaboration in legal development, innovation, and intellectual property (IP).
As a Member State of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Lesotho reaffirmed its commitment to advancing its national intellectual property agenda in line with global best practices as the engagement also underscored shared values between Lesotho and Singapore in promoting creativity, innovation, and the effective use of intellectual property systems to support inclusive development.
It also expressed appreciation for WIPO’s continued technical and institutional support, particularly in relation to the Appropriate Technology Project, which was officially launched in the country in November 2025.
Furthermore, Lesotho also further sought ongoing assistance for the prototyping and deployment phases of the project, which is designed to address local development challenges through practical and innovative technological solutions. The initiative is expected to deliver tangible socio-economic benefits to communities across the country.
Discussions reflected the growing importance of intellectual property as a strategic tool for economic growth, innovation, and sustainable development also also highlighted the need to strengthen public awareness and outreach on intellectual property, foster strategic partnerships between the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) Academy and institutions of higher learning in Lesotho, and organize initiatives aimed at promoting effective IP utilization.
Emphasis was placed on enhancing cooperation through the exchange of knowledge and experience on intellectual property matters.
The courtesy call concluded with a reaffirmation of the shared commitment by Lesotho and Singapore to leverage WIPO frameworks and international partnerships to protect innovation, build institutional capacity, and advance sustainable development for the mutual benefit of both nations.
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