165. The representative of the WTO Secretariat said that, with regard to activities specifically directed towards least-developed countries, the Secretariat had continued to work with the authorities of the countries in question and WIPO with a view to organizing national seminars as requested by Lesotho and Chad. In addition, the Secretariat had received a request for a national activity under the Technical Cooperation Plan from Mozambique which was sought to be carried out before the end of the year.
166. Regarding other activities that were not specifically addressed towards least-developed countries but might be of considerable interest to them, two of the regional workshops recently held by the Secretariat had taken place in Africa. One had been held in Gabon in May for French-speaking African countries, and the other for English-speaking African countries would be held in Zambia in July. Both these events had a focus on topical issues before the TRIPS Council, including the issue of TRIPS and public health.
167. The Secretariat was organizing a workshop on the TRIPS Agreement and public health to be held from 26 to 28 September 2005, the main objective of which was to support participants from developing countries with direct responsibilities for matters relating to the TRIPS Agreement and public health in the use of the paragraph 6 mechanism. Invitations had been sent out to developing country and economy in transition Members to nominate candidates for this workshop. The closing date for such nominations was 30 June 2005.
