H.E. Ambassador Dr Lansana GBERIE

Bangladesh

17 ELECTION OF CHAIRPERSON

394.   My delegation welcomes HE Pimchanok Pitfield of Thailand as the new Chair of the Council for TRIPS. We can assure you our full support and cooperation and we wish you all success in the work of the TRIPS Council. With that we also wish goodbye to our good colleague Assan Touray from The Gambia. Finally, the delegation of Bangladesh, commends you, Excellency Ambassador Dr Gberie, for your guidance and leadership in the Council for TRIPS, particularly during the most difficult time. I should say that this Council, during MC12, was the toughest one and you were very courageous because as I feel – I have been working here for almost 4 years – I have full respect for all other colleagues, but you are very courageous for taking the leadership during the most difficult time of MC12. So special congratulations and gratitude to you, and we hope that you will continue to support the works of the Council for TRIPS with your wisdom and do stay in Geneva with us.

80. The Council so agreed.

78. The Chair turned to the last agenda item, namely "election of the Chairperson".
79. He noted that the rules of procedure provided that "[t]he election shall take place at the first meeting of the year and shall take effect at the end of the meeting", and that "[t]he Chairperson […] shall hold office until the end of the first meeting of the following year". He recalled that, at its meeting on 6-7 March 2023, the General Council had noted consensus on the Chairpersons for regular and negotiating WTO bodies. On the basis of the understanding reached by the General Council, he proposed that the Council for TRIPS elect H.E. Mrs Pimchanok Pitfield, Ambassador of Thailand, as its chairperson for the coming year.
80. The Council so agreed.
81. The representatives of Thailand; the European Union; Bangladesh; Nepal; the United Kingdom; Tanzania, on behalf of the African Group; Japan; the United States of America; Indonesia; Cambodia; Canada; Kenya; Egypt; Korea, Republic of; Brazil and the Secretariat took the floor.
82. The Chair thanked delegations for their trust and cooperation during his term as TRIPS Council Chair during the past year and expressed his hope that they would also support the efforts of his successor in addressing the items on the Council's agenda. He wished delegations and the new Chair much success in that endeavour.
83. The meeting was closed.

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IP/C/M/107, IP/C/M/107/Add.1