Ladies and gentlemen,
1. A very good morning to everyone and a very warm welcome to the Business Awareness Seminar on Plant Variety Protection. In particular, I have the pleasure of welcoming to Singapore a host of international experts on plant variety protection, as well as national representatives from the East Asia Forum for Plant Varieties Protection. We are also very pleased to have with us a representative from UPOV, Mr Peter Button.
2. The Intellectual Property Office of Singapore is the national authority for the application and registration of all intellectual property rights in Singapore, including plant variety protection rights. The Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore are our technical examination partners in the Singapore plant variety protection system. On behalf of IPOS and AVA, allow me to convey our thanks to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) of Japan for their support towards co-organising this event.
3. Past events of the East Asia Forum for Plant Varieties Protection (EAFPVP) have aided in capacity building for East Asian countries, by looking into legal and technical issues, and helping countries acquire a better understanding of the international plant variety protection system. IPOS and AVA, in collaboration with MAFF of Japan, are pleased to contribute towards regional capacity building efforts via this 2-day Business Awareness Seminar on Plant Variety Protection.
4. Unlike other EAFPVP events, this seminar aims to bring in the business perspective. This seminar also aims to look at practical questions and issues faced by users and potential users of the PVP system. In the course of discussions today and tomorrow, our distinguished speakers will explain the international legal and technical structure of plant varieties protection, of which UPOV is the leading system of protection. National representatives will also share with you their respective application procedures and case studies on the impact of and economic benefits derived from the PVP system in their national jurisdictions.
5. We hope this seminar will provide an opportunity for you to raise any questions you may have on plant varieties protection for discussion with our expert speakers, who have kindly taken the time out of their busy schedules to come and speak during this seminar. Through discussion, we hope that you will glean a better appreciation of the need to protect intellectual efforts in breeding and developing new plant varieties. This is an important issue even in highly urbanized Singapore. Although our economy is largely dominated by the manufacturing and services sector, our small floriculture and horticultural sectors are important contributors to our export earnings.
6. As some of you know, Singapore is one of the main exporters of fresh and cut orchids. Over 150 farms on our small island produce a variety of plants and vegetable crops. The shift in focus to new industries related to plant biotechnology and biofuels will give greater impetus in the development of new plant species and varieties, and consequently hold significance for the PVP system.
7. On this note, let me end by wishing everyone a fruitful and productive seminar experience. Thank you.