World Customs Organization supports the First Arab Consumer and Brand Protection Forum

WCO Secretary General Michel Danet said at the closing session of the 4th Global Congress held recently in Dubai, the full support and endorsement for the first Arab initiative lead by the Arab League, and praised the effort of the Forum's organizers to call on all stakeholders from private and public sectors to join forces to ensure effective implementation of strategies solutions to combat counterfeiting and piracy in the Arab world.

Commercial fraud costs the region about $50bn annually, accounting for approximately six percent of the $780bn lost worldwide every year, Mr. Danet mentioned at the recommendations session of the 4th Global Congress on Combating Counterfeiting and Piracy.

The Forum is the brainchild of the Arab League, resulting from collaboration by its Secretary General HE Amr Moussa, with Hemaya Universal, said Arab League's Assistant Secretary General for Economic Affairs, Dr. Mohammed Bin Ibrahim Tuwaijri.

"Such synergy and partnership between the public and private sectors is critical in enabling this region to compete effectively in the international marketplace," Dr. Tuwaijri said in his speech to the Congress.

Dr. Tuwaijri described the Forum as "a concrete and determined step towards promoting consumer welfare and protecting the Arab markets from the debilitating effects of commercial fraud."

The Forum has multi-pronged objectives aimed at finding ways to trigger effective public participation in the Arab world in the global war on commercial fraud and piracy.

"The First Arab Consumer and Brand Protection Forum objectives consist to increase the level of consumer awareness about the danger of piracy and counterfeiting," Dr. Tuwaijri said, "through lectures, best practices case studies, capacity building know-how, and intensive exchange of data and experience with relevant local and global organizations.

Dr. Tuwaijri said Hemaya Universal is multiplying efforts to protect consumers from fraudulent trade and safeguard intellectual property rights in the region.

Hemaya Universal's CEO Mr. Ahmed Al-Zubaidi, said the Forum represents the Arab private sector's determination to effectively combat counterfeiting in the region through cooperation with the Arab League and other leading stakeholders in the Arab world.

Thanking WCO's Secretary General Mr. Danet for his support to the Forum, Mr. Al-Zubaidi said collaboration with regional and international organizations is essential to minimize the danger of piracy and commercial fraud in the Arab World.