Doha Hosts Conference On ADR And IP To Attract FDI, Sustainable Growth

Doha, Qatar: The Conference on the Role of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), Intellectual Property (IP) Protection, and Innovation in Advancing Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) for Sustainable Development commenced yesterday in Doha.

The opening ceremony was attended by the Minister of State for Foreign Trade Affairs at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI), H E Dr. Ahmed bin Mohammed Al-Sayed; President of the International Law Association - GCC Branch, Ahmed Issa Al Sulaiti; Director of the WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center, Ignacio de Castro; and Dean of the College of Law at HBKU, Dr. Susan L Karamanian among others.

The two-day event convenes distinguished experts, policymakers, and stakeholders from around the world to explore the critical intersection of dispute resolution, intellectual property rights, and innovation as key drivers of sustainable economic growth and foreign investment.

During his keynote speech, Dr. Al Sayed noted that the conference is a continuation of a series of successful events that intensified after the first edition of the conference on the role of intellectual property in promoting economic growth.

“This cooperation with WIPO is key to holding these conferences as part of the efforts made by the Ministry of Democracy and the State of Qatar, as it attempts to achieve the pedagogical vision for the implementation of the specific objectives of WIPO,” the Minister said.“The third strategic and sustainable development is in order to anchor the status of the author, as it is through innovation, creativity, and sustainable economic growth.”

Dr. Al-Sayed emphasised that MoCI's strategy is centered on enhancing direct economic contributions, strengthening the competitiveness and productivity of priority sectors, fostering collaboration between the public and private sectors, and developing the capacities of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). It also emphasises the protection of intellectual property and the advancement of growth across knowledge-driven, creative, and innovation-oriented fields.

Speaking to The Peninsula on the sidelines of the event, Dr. Karamanian explained,“We are going to be looking at a number of different issues and getting perspectives from the business community as to the protection of intellectual property rights.”

“Ways in which, if there are disputes, how can they best be resolved? Will going through the courts be the answer? Obviously, that is one option, but there are other options, such as arbitration and mediation, where the parties elect to have the disputes resolved outside of the courts,” she added.

Director of the WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center, Ignacio de Castro, stated that preparations for the convention have been underway since last February and included the launch of a specialised training program in partnership with institutions in Qatar. He said that“This initiative underscores the importance of strengthening international cooperation and sharing expertise to advance IP-related dispute resolution mechanisms, thereby fostering a legal framework that supports innovation.

De Castro further added,“The WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center is undergoing rapid growth in terms of the number of cases filed. The Center registered more than 850 cases in 2024, and for the first time, the number is expected to exceed 1,000 this year.”

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