The International Trademark Association opened registration for its 142nd Annual Meeting, which will take place at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre in Singapore April 25 to 29.
More than 10,000 brand owners, intellectual property (IP) professionals, government officials, and other stakeholders are expected to register for the Annual Meeting, which is the world’s largest industry gathering. The five-day event features 300 educational and networking opportunities, including sessions on hot topics in technology and innovation, and “doing business” in the region, and an interactive anticounterfeiting workshop.
This marks the first time INTA will be hosting its Annual Meeting in Southeast Asia and the second time the Association is bringing the event to Asia. Its Annual Meeting was in Hong Kong in 2014.
“This is a very exciting time for INTA to be holding our 2020 Annual Meeting in this part of the world, given that the region is fast becoming a center of global economic activity,” said INTA 2020 President Ayala Deutsch. “It offers our international audience the chance to meet in a culturally diverse and vibrant location where they can learn, network, develop business relationships, and discuss issues of interest.”
“In addition,” she said, “it opens the door for registrants to take a closer look at all the vast opportunities this region presents for brand owners globally. Asia has a large and growing middle class, which is developing brand consciousness and loyalty, making it an important emerging market for brand owners to explore.”
With a concentration of emerging economies, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), comprising 10 countries in Southeast Asia, has one of the highest gross domestic product growth rates in the world today.
The Annual Meeting will feature educational sessions with a focus on major markets of Asia, including China, India, and ASEAN, and will enable registrants to deepen their understanding of the Asia IP ecosystem and expand their professional networks in the region. The education program will also include several sessions in Mandarin to accommodate participants from many of the up-and-coming Chinese companies that will be in attendance.
INTA opened its Asia-Pacific Representative Office in Singapore in March 2016. Through this office, the Association is working with government and industry stakeholders to promote trademarks, support harmonization and enforcement of trademark laws, and protect consumers throughout the region.
“Of course, our advocacy work helpPagess us support our members in the region, but, importantly, it also greatly benefits our members worldwide who are looking to expand into this growth market,” noted Seth Hays, INTA Chief Representative Officer, Asia-Pacific. “The 2020 Annual Meeting is designed to reflect this strategy, so that local and non-local registrants can achieve their unique business goals.”
A confluence of factors contributed to INTA’s selection of Singapore for the 2020 gathering, including the country’s extensive air linkages and ease of accessibility, hotel density, and local business culture, as well as English being widely spoken. The Association has implemented a rotation strategy for the Annual Meeting with every third meeting taking place outside the United States.
To learn more and register for the 2020 Annual Meeting, visit inta.org/2020annual.
About the International Trademark Association
The International Trademark Association (INTA) is a global association of brand owners and professionals dedicated to supporting trademarks and related intellectual property (IP) to foster consumer trust, economic growth, and innovation. Members include more than 7,200 trademark owners, professionals, and academics from 187 countries, who benefit from the Association’s global trademark resources, policy development, education and training, and international network. Founded in 1878, INTA is headquartered in New York City, with offices in Brussels, Santiago, Shanghai, Singapore, and Washington, D.C., and representatives in Geneva and New Delhi. For more information, visit inta.org.