An international seminar titled "Copyright and economic significance of creative industries" kicked off in Azerbaijan`s capital on June 10th.
The seminar is co-organized by the Azerbaijan Copyright Agency and World Intellectual Property Organization.
The event was opened by chairman of the Azerbaijan Copyright Agency Kamran Imanov who highlighted what had been done to strengthen copyright protection in the country.
Imanov highlighted Azerbaijan's economic progress, saying "it ensures development of knowledge-based economy".
The Azerbaijan Copyright Agency's chief also praised the role of creative industry in the country's economy.
"A study by the Azerbaijan Copyright Agency has shown that creative industry saw its share in the Gross Domestic Product reach 2.4 percent. It has grown 5-fold since 2003. And it can be compared to figures in rapidly developing, and event developed countries."
Imanov also highlighted Azerbaijan's achievements in the information technologies sector.
"Azerbaijan's ICT sector is very rapidly developing. We plan to put our own satellite into orbit in 2012. ICT sector enjoys an average 32-35 percent annual growth. And the World Economic Forum in Davos ranked Azerbaijan 67th among 127 countries - which means first place in CIS - in terms of ICT progress."
Other speakers at the event, including Shahin Sadigov, head of the economic and financial-credit policy department at the Cabinet of Ministers, Ziyad Samadzade, chairman of the Parliament's economic policy committee, and Sevda Mammadaliyeva, deputy minister of culture and tourism, highlighted Azerbaijan's economic, political ad cultural achievements. The speakers also praised the Azerbaijan Copyright Agency's role in ensuring the protection of intellectual property in the country.

AzerTAc