Dr Francis Gurry, Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), will visit Singapore from 26 to 31 July 2009 at the joint invitation of Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr George Yeo and Minister for Law and Second Minister for Home Affairs Mr K Shanmugam. Dr Gurry will come as a guest under the United Nations Distinguished Visitors Programme (UNDVP). Dr Gurry's visit will also coincide with the establishment of the Singapore Office of the WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center on 28 July 2009.
The UN Distinguished Visitors Programme invites outstanding individuals linked to the United Nations system to visit Singapore. The UN system includes 14 independent "specialised agencies", among them the World Intellectual Property Organization, which has wide-ranging international responsibilities in the field of intellectual property rights.
The UN Distinguished Visitor will have the opportunity to meet and forge links with leading Singapore personalities. The Visitor will be able to develop a better understanding of the factors behind Singapore's economic and social development, and at the same time give decision makers in Singapore a better appreciation of issues and developments that affect their areas of interest.
During his visit, Dr Gurry will call on Prime Minister Mr Lee Hsien Loong and meet with Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr George Yeo, Minister for Law and Second Minister for Home Affairs Mr K Shanmugam, Acting Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts RADM (NS) Lui Tuck Yew, Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Dr Balaji Sadasivan, Minister of State for Trade and Manpower Mr Lee Yi Shyan and Chairman of A*STAR Mr Lim Chuan Poh. Dr Gurry will also be delivering an Open Lecture at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy on 28 July 2009 and the Keynote Address at the APEC Trading Ideas Symposium hosted by the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore on 30 July 2009.