In a landmark moment for the Kingdom’s innovation landscape, the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property (SAIP)has officially issued its 20,000th patent, cementing Saudi Arabia’s growing reputation as a regional leader in intellectual property rights and technological advancement. This achievement marks…
UNDP Report – July 2025 Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) face unique structural barriers to growth, from a lack of seaport access to high trade costs, climate vulnerabilities, and limited financing options. Representing 7% of the world’s population but only 1.1%…
The global trading system is weathering a turbulent 2025, with economic resilience tested by policy uncertainty, rising tariffs, geopolitical tensions, and the dominance of Big Tech in digital markets. The latest Global Trade Update (July 2025) by UNCTAD provides a…
Introduction A Sector with Promise Amidst Complexity The African textiles and apparel (T&A) sector has long been viewed as a potential driver of industrialisation, job creation, and regional economic transformation. Yet, despite this potential, Africa’s T&A industry remains underdeveloped and…
After multiple delays and decades of anticipation, the Bermudian government has confirmed that its long-awaited trademark reform will officially take effect on July 1, 2025. The new legislation, anchored in the Trademarks Act 2023, represents a sweeping modernisation of Bermuda’s…
In a progressive move to strengthen science and innovation among youth, the Ugandan government has announced plans to integrate intellectual property (IP) education into the national school curriculum. This initiative, spearheaded by the Ministry of Education and Sports, reflects a…
Africa’s Cotton, Textile, and Apparel Industry: Market Strategies under AfCFTA Vol. 4, 2025 Despite holding over 20% of global cotton-growing land, Africa contributes less than 5% to global textile and apparel exports. The May 2025 policy brief by the Africa…
As part of the International Trade and Research Centre’s (ITRC) 2025 World Intellectual Property Day commemoration, this policy brief examines how Africa’s creative economy—particularly the music sector—can become a driver of intra-African trade through robust intellectual property (IP) systems and…
Navigating the Global Crossroads As the global economy stumbles through a maze of shocks—from trade wars and geopolitical tensions to climate volatility and public debt surges—the World Bank’s Global Economic Prospects (GEP) June 2025 arrives as both a sobering diagnosis…
The June 2025 United Nations Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Global Trade Update reveals that the ocean economy—a crucial driver of global food security, trade diversification, and innovation—reached $2.2 trillion in trade value in 2023, accounting for 7% of global trade.…