CIPA Urges Gaborone Councillors to Champion Intellectual Property for Local Economic Growth

CIPA Urges Gaborone Councillors to Champion Intellectual Property for Local Economic Growth. The Companies and Intellectual Property Authority (CIPA) has called on local government leaders to play a more active role in promoting intellectual property (IP) as a tool for economic development. Addressing the Full Council Meeting of the Gaborone City Council yesterday, CIPA Acting Registrar General Mr. Timothy Moalusi urged councillors to become IP champions in their wards.

Mr. Moalusi emphasised the importance of intellectual property in unlocking value for small businesses, youth, and persons with disabilities (PWDs). He encouraged councillors to collaborate with CIPA in identifying individuals and enterprises with creative or innovative products and assist them in securing IP protection for their work.

For Botswana’s business community, especially SMEs and informal sector entrepreneurs, the registration of trademarks, patents, and copyrights remains an often overlooked but essential step in scaling up and protecting their enterprises. With the country striving to diversify its economy beyond traditional sectors, intellectual property has become a strategic tool in nurturing homegrown industries and promoting exports.

Mr. Moalusi noted that building local IP awareness and accessibility is central to CIPA’s ongoing campaign, #HarnessingIP4EconomicGrowth, which aims to position intellectual property as a pillar of inclusive economic growth.

CIPA plans to intensify public education efforts in partnership with local authorities and business support institutions. Entrepreneurs are encouraged to explore the benefits of IP protection and engage with CIPA to learn how to commercialise their innovations.