OAPI Space: Côte d'Ivoire, Leading Patent Filer for SMEs (Kalil Konaté)

Côte d'Ivoire ranks first in the OAPI space for intellectual property filings, according to Kalil Konaté, Minister of Commerce. He announced three initiatives to transform patents into financeable assets, including the SAIIT in Niamey and a financing mechanism with the African Guarantee Fund. Innovative SMEs, despite their high potential, face challenges in accessing funding, which limits the commercialization of their inventions.