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Samoa Deepens Strategic Partnership with WIPO Director General Daren Tang to Advance Cultural Heritage, Climate Resilience, and Regional IP Leadership

Published 13 July 2026

Samoa's delegation met WIPO Director General Daren Tang at the 68th WIPO Assemblies, deepening partnership on the Samoan Tatau Project, WIPO Green climate adaptation, education technology, and regional IP leadership - with Samoa set to host key WIPO workshops and a Pacific IP conference.

Samoa delegation meeting with WIPO Director General Daren Tang around a boardroom table in Geneva

Geneva, Switzerland, 10 July 2026 — The Samoa delegation met with World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Director General Daren Tang on the margins of the 68th Series of Meetings of the Assemblies of the Member States of WIPO, reaffirming Samoa's strong partnership with WIPO and advancing key national and regional priorities in intellectual property, cultural heritage, climate adaptation, and education technology.

Director General Tang welcomed the delegation warmly and commended Samoa's leadership in people-centred IP development. Reflecting on Samoa's message at the Ministerial Dialogue, he noted that "IP is not just about industrial matters, but... a way inclusive to connect to much quality of people." He also underscored the global cultural significance of Samoa's heritage, remarking that "the English word tattoo comes from the Samoan word tatau... the origin of the word tattoo is from your culture."

A member of the Samoa delegation with WIPO Director General Daren Tang in front of the Samoa and WIPO flags

Strengthening Cultural Heritage Protection

The meeting highlighted the upcoming launch of the Samoan Tatau Project under WIPO's Innovation, Creativity and Development Acceleration Program. DG Tang emphasised the importance of bottom-up, community-driven methodology, referencing similar successful approaches with Aboriginal communities in Australia.

Samoa presented a painting depicting motifs of the male tatau as a cultural gift to DG Tang, symbolising Samoa's commitment to safeguarding cultural heritage and aligning with the Malofie branding initiative.

Samoa's Minister and WIPO Director General Daren Tang holding a framed painting of male tatau motifs presented as a cultural gift in front of the Samoa and WIPO flags

Advancing Climate Change Adaptation

DG Tang announced Samoa's participation in the WIPO GREEN Acceleration Project, a technology-matching platform designed to support climate adaptation across Samoa, Tonga, and Fiji. He described the platform as "a bit like Tinder for climate change," connecting countries with innovative technologies they may not otherwise access.

Samoa welcomed this initiative as a critical tool for supporting communities affected by climate change and strengthening national resilience. Samoa has agreed to host the WIPO Green Validation Workshop in October 2026.

A Samoa delegate with WIPO Director General Daren Tang beside the Samoa and WIPO flags

Education Technology and Capacity Building

Recognising Samoa's geographic spread and the importance of equitable access to learning, WIPO and Samoa discussed new opportunities in education technology to support remote and outer islands.

Samoa respectfully requested continued support for advanced IP training, including:

  • Additional sponsorship for the Master's in Intellectual Property (Turin)
  • A secondment opportunity for Samoa's Madrid Registry staff
  • Continued collaboration with the Accessible Books Consortium

DG Tang highlighted the impact of WIPO's training programs, citing graduates who have gone on to establish national IP offices in their home countries.

Regional IP Leadership and Treaty Engagement

Samoa reaffirmed its commitment to regional IP cooperation, noting substantial gains achieved through WIPO support, including:

  • A leading Pacific IP Register
  • Significant non-tax revenue growth
  • Strengthened protection of Traditional Knowledge
  • Voluntary technical support extended to Fiji, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Cook Islands, and the Federated States of Micronesia

Samoa also expressed readiness to host a Pacific Heads of Intellectual Property Offices Conference in 2027 to advance regional treaty accession, and invited DG Tang to attend and open the event.

DG Tang praised Samoa's engagement in the recently concluded Genetic Resources and Associated Traditional Knowledge (GRATK) Treaty, noting that only eleven additional signatories are needed for it to enter into force globally. Samoa registered interest and will likely be the next country to accede to the GRATK.

A Shared Commitment to Pacific Communities

DG Tang expressed interest in visiting Samoa and the wider Pacific region to deepen understanding of local priorities and meet traditional knowledge holders. He emphasised that firsthand engagement would strengthen WIPO's ability to tailor support to Pacific realities.

The meeting concluded with an exchange of traditional Samoan gifts symbolising cultural respect and partnership.

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