The Dominican Republic is a full member of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) as of 27 March. In Geneva, Switzerland, for the occasion, Minister of Industry and Commerce Luis Manuel Bonetti said the DR obtained the membership along the lines of the new diplomacy implemented by the Fernández administration. In a speech, he said that the DR identifies with the WIPO director’s vision of intellectual property being a tool at the service of trade and development. He said the DR is challenged to reorient its development strategies to become part of the new knowledge society. He said the support by impartial international organizations such as the WIPO and the WTO are the best guarantee that small and open developing countres such as the DR are able to exercise rights and obligations according to best national interests. "And this is of great relevance because this year all developing countries will have to implement the agreement on "Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights" (TRIPS)," he said. Bonetti said that the developing world is facing severe pressures, out of all proportion, in order to implement this agreement for the exclusive benefit of producers of technological knowledge. "Has it been forgotten that the benefit has to be reciprocal for producers and users of technological knowledge, in such way as to foster social and economic welfare and the balance of rights and obligations among the Member countries of that agreement?," he asked.
