Strengthening Patent Cooperation: Laos and Japan Deepen IP Ties
22 Jul 2025
Thailand
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On June 11, 2025, a significant milestone was reached in Vientiane as the Lao Department of Intellectual Property and the Japan Patent Office (JPO) signed a new Declaration of Cooperation. The agreement, formalized at the Ministry of Industry and Trade, marks a renewed commitment to advancing patent examination and intellectual property (IP) capacity in the Lao PDR.
The signing ceremony was attended by senior officials from both sides, including Mr. Xaysomphet Norrasing (Lao DIP) and Mr. Yasuda Futoshi (JPO), reaffirming the strong bilateral relationship. This initiative builds on over a decade of partnership, including prior agreements from 2015 and 2016, which focused on training, knowledge sharing, and procedural harmonization.
Under the new declaration, Japan will continue supporting Laos in developing examination guidelines, training new patent examiners, and raising public awareness of IP rights. These efforts are crucial as Laos scales up its capabilities to offer more effective and internationally aligned IP services.
The collaboration also coincides with the 70th anniversary of Lao-Japan diplomatic ties and the 10th anniversary of formal IP cooperation. Lao officials emphasized the strategic importance of this partnership in modernizing national innovation infrastructure and attracting foreign investment.
As regional economies become increasingly IP-driven, this agreement reflects a shared vision to strengthen patent systems, support innovation, and promote sustainable economic development through robust IP governance.
