WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  IP/C/W/497/Add.5 
3 December 2007 
 (07-5305) 
Council for Trade-Related Aspects 
of Intellectual Property Rights Original:   English 
 
 
 
REPORT ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF ARTICLE 66.2 
OF THE TRIPS AGREEMENT 
 
UNITED STATES 
 
Addendum  
 
 
 The following communication, dated 12 October 2007, from the Delegation of the  
United States is being circulated pursuant to paragraph 1 of the Deci sion on Implementation of 
Article 66.2 of the TRIPS Agreement.  It was circ ulated as an advance copy for the TRIPS Council in 
meeting in October 2007. 
 
_______________ 
 
 
I. INTRODUCTION 
1. The United States is committed to continually e nhancing its activities relevant to Article 66.2 
of the TRIPS Agreement, namely the provision of incentives to its domestic enterprises and 
institutions to promote and encourage technolo gy transfer to least-developed country Members 
(LDCs) in order to enable such Members to create a sound and viable  technological base.  The United 
States is also seeking to improve the quality of its reporting regarding acti ons taken or planned in 
connection with Article 66.2, in keeping with  the guidelines established in the TRIPS Council's 
Decision of 20 February 2003. 
2. Having provided the required triennial detaile d report in October 2006 (IP/W/480/Add.6), the 
United States is seeking through this year's report to provide Members of the TRIPS Council with an 
updated presentation on United States Government efforts that respond to the provisions of 
Article 66.2, including certain new elements.   
3. We have sought in this year's report to conf ine United States reporting to activities that are 
specifically targeted to providing incentives for te chnology transfer to LDC Members.  While the 
United States continues to provide extensive incen tives relevant to technology transfer to non-LDC 
developing country Members, the United States recogni zes that this report should be targeted as much 
as possible with specific respect to LDC Members,  in light of the LDC focus of Article 66.2. 
4. Recognizing the particular interest of LDC Members in developing a sound technological 
base in the field of public health, this year's report incorporates new information regarding the 
activities of the United States Government to provide incentives for technology transfer in this critical 
field.  The United States intends to continue elabora ting on activities in this important area in future 
reports submitted in accordance with the February 2003 Decision. IP/C/W/497/Add.5 
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  5. This report also introduces an important incentiv e that has not been discussed in previous 
reports.  The tax laws of the United States provide exte nsive benefits, in the form of tax exemptions or 
tax liability reductions, to private institutions and foundations engaged in in ternational development 
work.  This form of incentive is introduced in this  year's report, and will be elaborated upon in future 
reports with additional data.  The importance of such tax incentives in achieving the goals of 
Article 66.2 was specifically noted in UNCTAD 's Least Developed Countries report for 2007. 
6. In another new addition, this year's report al so incorporates an illustrative listing of country-
specific activities relevant to the Article 66.2 obligation. 
7. The intellectual property, trade capacity, traini ng, development assistance, and infrastructure-
related programmes outlined in this report are inte gral elements of the United States Government's 
efforts to help create the conditions  essential to encouraging the eff ective transfer of technology to 
LDC Members.   
8. The private sector does respond to these incentiv es.  For example, the United States is a 
leading provider of foreign direct investment to Africa.  At year-end 2005 (most recent data available), the US direct investment position in Afri ca rose 16 per cent from 2004, to US$14.8 billion.  
US direct investment in Africa supports US trade with the region and enhances US African business 
partnerships, including in the field of technology transfer. 
9. The US continues to believe that the effec tive functioning of Article 66.2 of the TRIPS 
Agreement relies on a fulsome dialogue between de veloped and LDC Members in order to target 
incentives in a way that is most responsive to the self-identified t echnology transfer interests and 
needs of LDC Members.  The United States looks fo rward, in the TRIPS Council and bilaterally, to 
engaging in such dialogue. 
II. INCENTIVES RELATED TO HEALTH TECHNOLOGIES:  US NATIONAL 
INSTITUTES OF HEALTH TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER AND CAPACITY BUILDING ACTIVITIES 
10. Ongoing biomedical and behavioural research funding activities of the National Institutes of 
Health (NIH), an agency within the US Department  of Health and Human Services, have contributed 
to technology transfer and capacity building in several LDCs.  Some examples include: 
A. HIV
 PREVENTION TRIALS NETWORK (HPTN)   
11. In an effort to reduce the wo rldwide spread of HIV, NIH created the HPTN, a global network 
of clinical trial sites that explores non-vaccine pr evention strategies to reduce HIV transmission.  The 
network aims to test both biomedical and behavior al intervention programmes and help build research 
capacity in LDCs and elsewhere.  Collaborative research through th e HPTN is carried out through 
HIV Prevention Trials Units (HPTUs) located in 14 s ites in Africa, Asia, Europe, and South America.  
Those HPTN sites in LDCs include the Malawi  College of Medicine, Tanzania's Muhimbili 
University, Uganda's Makerere University and Zamb ia's Lusaka District Health Board and University 
Teaching Hospital. 
B. MULTILATERAL INITIATIVE ON MALARIA (MIM)   
12. NIH, together with the World Health Or ganization, co-founded the MIM in 1997 and has 
supported its activities in LDCs and elsewhere since then.  MIM's mission is to increase and enhance 
worldwide research on malaria by facilitating multinational research cooperation.  NIH has also established malaria research facilities in Mali a nd Ghana and has trained local scientists and  IP/C/W/497/Add.5 
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  physicians to conduct malaria research from within  endemic countries, including those in several 
LDCs in Africa. 
C. NIH  INFECTIOUS DISEASE RESEARCH FOCUS IN AFRICA   
13. NIH supports and has funded research activities in 26 African countries, including the 
following WTO-Member LDC countries in Africa:  Benin, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, 
the Democratic Republic of Congo, The Gambia, Madagascar, Malawi, Ma li, Rwanda, Senegal, 
Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.  HIV/AIDS, TB, and malaria are three of the most serious global infectious diseases in Africa, causing millions of d eaths each year.  These three diseases are a major 
cause of poverty through their debilitating impact on the active workforce, and significantly affect 
economic development and stability of the region.  NI H's National Institute of Allergy and Infectious 
Diseases (NIAID) supports HIV/AIDS research in  many African countries, with most projects 
conducted in areas with the highest incidence of infection and disease, namely Botswana, Kenya, 
Malawi, Rwanda, South Africa, Zambia, and Zi mbabwe.  The recent emergence of Multidrug-
Resistant TB (MDR TB) and Extensively Drug-Resist ant TB (XDR TB), especially in the context of 
HIV/AIDS infection, is being addressed by NI AID-funded projects conducted in Tanzania and 
Uganda, as well as in South Africa.  Malaria rema ins a major threat, and NIAID conducts clinical, 
epidemiological, drug, and vaccine research in  African LDC countries such as Cameroon, The 
Gambia, Ghana, Malawi, Mali, Tanzania, and Uganda.  
14. Neglected diseases such as filariasis, schistoso miasis, sleeping sickness, and others are 
receiving renewed attention, with NIAID projects in  Malawi, as well as in Kenya and South Africa.  
NIAID supported a major pneumococcal vaccine trial in The Gambia that was 77 per cent effective in 
preventing pneumococcal infecti ons caused by the vaccine serotypes.  Almost all NIH supported 
research has helped not only in technology transfer to African LDCs but also in capacity building for 
researchers so that they may better address infec tious diseases endemic to their respective countries. 
D. NIH
 RESEARCH TRAINING PROGRAMMES FOR LOW AND MIDDLE INCOME DEVELOPING 
COUNTRIES   
15. NIH's Fogarty International Center runs several research training programmes that include 
training for LDC biomedical researchers and rese arch institutions and contribute to technology 
transfer and capacity building in LDCs.  Among these are the AIDS International Training and Research Programme (AITRP), the Global Infec tious Disease Research Training Programme (GID), 
and the International Clinical, Operational and H ealth Services Research and Training Award for 
AIDS and Tuberculosis (ICOHRTA-AIDS/TB).  Th e AITRP programme includes researchers from 
Bangladesh, Cambodia, Haiti, Lesotho, Malawi, Mo zambique, Rwanda, Senega l, Tanzania, Uganda, 
Zambia, and Zimbabwe.  The GID helps to tr ain researchers from Bangladesh, Tanzania, Mali, 
Malawi, Uganda, Cameroon, Cambodia, Senegal,  and Papua New Guinea, among others.  The 
ICOHRTA-AIDS/TB programme trai ns researchers from Haiti, Ug anda, and Zimbabwe and has 
provided funds for planning grants in Mala wi, Tanzania, and Botswana, and elsewhere. 
E. T
ECHNOLOGY LICENSES   
16. NIH has licensed rights to use a conjugate vacc ine technology developed at FDA to PATH of 
Seattle, Washington, for its Meningitis Vaccine Pr oject in collaboration with the World Health 
Organization.  The goal is to vaccinate the population at risk in Sub-Saharan Africa in what is called 
the "meningitis belt".  This includes: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, 
Chad, Ethiopia, The Gambia, Guinea,  Guinea Faso, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sudan, 
and Uganda. 
 IP/C/W/497/Add.5 
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  17. NIH has licensed to International Vaccine In stitute (IVI) of Seoul, Korea technology and 
biological materials used to produce a typhoid fever vaccine.  IVI plans to produce and distribute the vaccine in endemic regions, initially including: Bangladesh and Mozambique. 
III. INCENTIVES UNDER US TAX LAW 
18. Through a variety of provisions of US tax law, the US Government provides extensive 
incentives to private institutions engaged in activities dir ectly relevant to the transfer of technology.   
19. Under US tax law, many institutions (such as charities, private foundations, religious 
institutions, and certain non-gove rnmental organizations) qualify for an exemption from federal 
income taxation by virtue of being organized a nd operated to carry out charitable work, including 
internationally.  In addition, individual American taxpayers who make personal contributions to such 
charitable institutions or foundations generally also  benefit from a reduction in income tax liability, 
subject to certain maximum limits. 
20. These tax-based incentives have played a signifi cant role in the development of a vibrant 
culture of international philanthropy in the United St ates.  OECD data indicate that non-governmental 
organizations based in the United States delivered US$6.3 billion in grants to low-income developing 
countries in 2003.  The existence of tax incentives intended to encourage such grant-making can be 
generally regarded as having a major impact on decision-making, both by individual donors and 
institutions, to direct financial resources to wards international developmental activity. 
21. Many foundations, NGOs and othe r institutions in the United States are engaged in activities 
directly relevant to promoting and encouraging tech nology transfer to least developed countries.  In 
preparing this report, the United States identified foundation-led programmes relevant to the transfer 
of technology, including the following illustrative activities. 
• Enhancing health care management systems, with a focus on HIV/AIDS care. 
• Upgrading research laboratory and medical facilities. 
• PhD level training of crop breeders. 
• Support for diffusion of new irrigation technologies. 
 
22. The United States intends, in future versions of this report, to elaborate in greater detail on 
such activities and programmes, and the role  of tax incentives in fostering them.   
IV. US DEPARTMENT OF STATE PROGRAMMES   
A. S
CIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AGREEMENTS   
23. Recognizing the importance of science-based re search in promoting economic growth and 
development, the United States establishes science and technology (S&T) cooperation agreements 
with developing countries.  S&T agreements build  science capacity and infrastructure and apply 
science, technology, and engineering to facilitate a developing country's inte gration into the global 
economy.  Areas covered by S&T agreements include: basic research and science education, 
meteorology and weather forecasting, health scien ces and public health, watershed management, 
environment and biodiversity protection, energy an d alternative energy research and development, 
information and communications technology, a nd biotechnology.  An S&T agreement was signed 
between the United States and Bangladesh in Marc h 2003.  The United States and Bangladesh are 
currently in the process of broadening the scope of th e agreement to spur further research.  There have 
also been hundreds of bilateral technical agency  agreements with countries throughout Africa.    IP/C/W/497/Add.5 
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  B. SPECIAL SELF-HELP PROGRAMME   
24. Another initiative that has science and technolog y-related impacts is the State Department's 
Special Self-Help (SSH) Programme, which s upports funding of community-based development 
projects that often have a technology transfer comp onent.  Programmes have included installation of 
solar energy panels in community facilities, constr uction of computer laboratories, eco-tourism, and 
others.  The SSH Programme began in 1964 as an expe rimental programme in Togo, and has grown to 
be one of the US's most visible and successful as sistance programmes in Africa.  In fiscal year 
(FY) 2006, US$1,642,000 in SSH funds were granted to projects in WTO-Member LDCs.   
V. TRADE CAPACITY BUILDING IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA 
25. Trade Capacity Building assistance (TCB) is a cornerstone of the US Government's strategy 
to promote economic growth through trade and to enable developing countries to negotiate and 
implement market-opening and reform-oriented trad e agreements.  TCB helps to improve the linkage 
between trade and development by providing deve loping countries with tools to maximize trade 
opportunities, including through fostering environm ents favourable to technology transfer.  The 
United States considers its TCB activities to be an in tegral element in its efforts to provide incentives 
for technology transfer, in keeping with Article 66.2 of the TRIPS Agreement. 
26. The United States devoted US$394 million to trade capacity building activities in sub-
Saharan Africa in FY2006, up 95 per cent from FY2005.   The Office of the US Trade Representative 
(USTR) works closely with several US agencies , including the US Agency for International 
Development (USAID), Customs and Border Prot ection, the US Trade and Development Agency 
(USTDA), the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), and the Departments of State, 
Agriculture, Commerce, and Transportation to ensure that US-sponsored TCB assistance is 
comprehensive and responsive to both African ne eds and US trade policy objectives.  Helping the 
African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) benefi ciary countries improve their capacity to trade 
and to make the most of the opportunities afford ed under AGOA has been a major focus of US TCB 
programmes.  
27. The activities of the four USAID-managed Re gional Trade Hubs for Global Competitiveness 
in sub-Saharan Africa (in Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Se negal) reinforce this goal.  Each Hub is staffed 
by a team of experts in various trade-related fields and responds to region-specific needs and serves as 
a central point where African and US government agencies, donor and civil society organizations, and 
the private sector can find information and techni cal assistance on trade, investment, and business 
activities in the region, including training opportunities.  One example of their activities that is of 
particular importance to the implementation of AGOA,  is funding of agricultural standards advisors 
from USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Se rvice (APHIS) to work with each Trade Hub and 
with USAID missions on coordinating pest risk assessm ents for prospective agricultural exports to the 
US from African countries.  Further information a bout the Hubs can be found on the Internet at 
www.watradehub.com (for the two hubs in West Afri ca), www.satradehub.org (for Southern Africa), 
and www.ecatradehub.com (for Eastern and Central Africa). 
VI. MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORPORATION 
28. The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) is a US development assistance programme 
designed to achieve poverty reducti on through economic growth by investing in areas such as 
agriculture development, education, enterprise a nd private sector development, governance, health, 
infrastructure, land titling, and trade and investment capacity building.  The MCC is now in its fourth 
year of operation, with annual appropriations  ranging from US$1 billion to US$1.7 billion. IP/C/W/497/Add.5 
Page 6  
 
  29. As of 2007, the MCC has threshold or compact  agreements with ten WTO-Member LDCs: 
Benin, Burkina Faso, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mala wi, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Tanzania, 
Uganda and Zambia.  US$1.2 billion has been a ppropriated for trade capacity building and trade-
related assistance over the next several years in six of those countries: Benin, Lesotho, Madagascar, 
Mali, Tanzania and Zambia.  In FY2006 al one, MCC spent US$276 million on trade-related 
assistance in Africa.  Trade-related assistance is earmarked for port, transportation and irrigation 
infrastructure, modernized payment and settlement systems, land administration reform, creation of 
agricultural business centres, industrial park develo pment, border management systems – all of which 
will serve as incentives for increased US private sector investment and technology transfer.  Three 
other countries – Niger, Rwanda, a nd Senegal – are MCC-eligible countries and all are in the process 
of developing partnerships with MCC. 
VII. US TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT AGENCY  
30. The US Trade and Development Agency (UST DA) advances economic development and US 
commercial interests in developing and middle income  countries.  The Agency funds various forms of 
technical assistance, early investment analysis, trai ning, orientation visits and business workshops that 
support the development of a modern infrastructure and a fair and open tradi ng environment.  USTDA 
is dedicated to promoting public-private partners hips and, through its provision of grant funding, 
assists its partners during the critical planning phases of priority infrast ructure, trade capacity 
building, and economic growth projects that promote the effective transfer of technology to LDCs.  
Recognizing the importance of trade to LDC grow th, USTDA works closely with USTR, other US 
Government agencies, and regional economic co mmunities to develop trade capacity and apply 
private sector solutions to development challe nges worldwide.  In FY2007, USTDA provided over 
US$5.5 million in assistance activities designed to creat e an enabling environment for increased trade 
and investment in LDCs. 
VIII.  US DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION   
31. The US Department of Transportation (DOT) plays an important role in maintaining the 
strong, interconnected global transportation system vital for economic growth in the United States and 
abroad.  DOT is engaged in a wide range of activ ities designed to enhance the transportation capacity 
and infrastructure of sub-Saharan African countries.  
32. The Safe Skies for Africa Programme is based on the premise that "Safe Skies" are a 
prerequisite for increased trade and investment a nd long-term economic devel opment in Africa.  The 
safety and security components complement US Government efforts to conclude Open Skies 
agreements with key African countries and promote code-share agreements between US and African 
airlines.  Specific goals of the Safe Skies Programme include:  (1) increasing the number of sub-Saharan African countries that meet Interna tional Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) safety 
standards (based on Federal Aviation Administration assessments);  (2) improving airport security in 
the region; and, (3) improving re gional air navigation services.  The DOT has trained African experts 
at the Federal Aviation Administration facility in Oklahoma City, and in country where appropriate.  
This training has resulted in hundreds of personne l receiving state-of-the-art training to address 
airworthiness, operations and naviga tion throughout the continent. 
IX. US AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT 
33. USAID is one of the principal US Government agencies involved in implementing the goal of 
promoting economic growth and reducing poverty in  developing countries around the world.  In 
particular, helping LDCs integrate into the world economy is a primary objective of USAID's 
economic growth and trade activities, which focu s on trade and investment policy, institutional 
analysis and reform, trade capacity building and t echnical training, and the promotion of US-Africa  IP/C/W/497/Add.5 
 Page 7 
 
 
  private sector development.  The following represen ts a brief summary of key USAID initiatives that 
incentivize the transfer of technology to LDCs. 
A. USAID  GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT ALLIANCE (GDA)    
34. The Global Development Alliance (GDA) mob ilizes the ideas, efforts and resources of 
governments, businesses and civil society by forging public-private alliances to stimulate economic 
growth, develop businesses and workforces, addre ss health and environmental issues, and expand 
access to education and technology.  Since FY  2002, USAID has obligated US$1.1 billion to 
approximately 290 public-private alliances wo rldwide, and leveraged over US$3.7 billion in 
committed partner contributions.  Through these alliances, USAID has not only gained additional financial resources for development activities, but also new technologies, intellectual capital and 
technical and managerial expertise that enhance its  ability to address an incr easingly complex set of 
development challenges. 
B. USAID
 AFRICAN GLOBAL COMPETITIVENESS INITIATIVE    
35. In July 2005, the United States announced the African Global Competitiveness Initiative 
(AGCI) to build sub-Saharan Africa's capacity fo r trade and competitiveness.  The AGCI will provide 
US$200 million in funding over five years (2006-2010) to support e xpanded African trade with the 
United States and other international trading partne rs, and regionally within Africa, and to improve 
African export competitiveness.  The AGCI operates within the framework of AGOA and works with 
host-country government and private sector partners pr imarily through the four Trade Hubs.  In 2007, 
the US Department of Commerce's Commercial Law Development Programme has undertaken 
assessment visits to Mali, Ghana, and Nigeria in  preparation for implementation of the AGCI.   
C. USAID  INTEGRATED FRAMEWORK INITIATIVE    
36. As part of its response to the WTO Doha De velopment Agenda, the United States, through 
USAID and MCC, is providing a wide range of supp ort for the Integrated Framework (IF) for Trade-
Related Technical Assistance to Least Developed Countries, an international, multi-donor programme 
that helps LDCs expand their participation in the global economy, enhance economic growth, and 
reduce poverty.  Twenty-two out of twenty-six sub-Saharan African country recipients are WTO-
Member LDCs: Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Bu rundi, Central African Republic, Chad, Djibouti, 
The Gambia, Guinea, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi , Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Niger, Rwanda, 
Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia.  The United States has contributed funds for 
the past few years to the Integrated Framework Trust Fund to finance Diagnostic Trade Integration 
Studies (DTIS), which identify constraints to trad e in the targeted country, sectors with export 
potential, and develop a plan of action to integrate the country into the global trading system.   
D. USAID  DIGITAL FREEDOM INITIATIVE    
37. The Digital Freedom Initiative (DFI) is a five-year programme organized by the Departments 
of Commerce and State, USAID, USA Freedom Corps, and the Peace Corps.  DFI promotes economic growth by transferring the benefits of informa tion and communication technology to entrepreneurs 
and small businesses in the developing world.  Key elements of the DFI are:  (1) placing volunteers in 
small businesses to share business knowledge and tec hnology expertise;  (2) promoting pro-growth 
regulatory and legal structures to enhance busin ess competitiveness;  and (3) leveraging existing 
technology and communications infrastructure in new ways to help entrepreneurs and small 
businesses better compete in both the regional and global market place.  To expand the lessons and 
impact of the DFI programme, USAID, the Intern ational Development Research Center, and the 
University of Western Cape in South Africa have formed a community of practice to develop custom 
software solutions and information technology syst ems.  The partner agencies involved with the DFI IP/C/W/497/Add.5 
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  would enter into a new programme, in which each brings its competencies to bear on a key 
development challenge facing Information Tech nology (IT) sectors in Africa around software 
engineering and IT systems deployment that span s more than 13 universities in over 10 countries. 
E. USAID
 LELAND INITIATIVE   
38. The USAID Leland Initiative and the Federa l Communications Commission (FCC) have 
continued collaboration to strengthen te lecommunications policy and build African 
telecommunications regulatory capacity.  The pr ogramme strengthens associations of African 
regulators; uses experts from the FCC and state level regulatory bodies to help United States and 
African university programmes on effective regulation;  and provides technical assistance to regulators 
in more than 20 countries.  In the past year, this ef fort has provided direct assistance to six countries.  
The programme has also provided technical assistance for regional efforts to promote 
communications market integration in West Africa. 
F. USAID  WEST AFRICA POWER POOL   
39. Increased availability of low cost, environmenta lly friendly electricity is critical to economic 
development and trade with West Africa.  In FY200 5, USAID's West Africa Programme continued to 
provide support to the West Africa Power Pool (WAPP), an industry organization created by electrical 
utilities in the region with the goal of increasing i nvestment in the sector.  The WAPP entered a new 
phase of its development with the approval in prin ciple by the Energy Ministers of the ECOWAS 
States at the end of October 2005 of the Articles of  Agreement for a Power Pool organization.  In 
FY2005, construction began on the West Africa G as Pipeline by a consortium of US and West 
African companies and first delivery of gas is sche duled for late 2007.  USAID's investment in the 
pipeline helped regulators and governments create th e enabling environment allowing for this US$615 
million investment that will bring low cost fuel to power plants in Benin, Ghana, and Togo. 
40. USAID also provides technical assistance to th e Southern, West, and Central Africa Power 
Pools.  The objective of this support is to increase access to reliable, affordable electricity through 
economically based, cross-border energy trading, wh ile also building the capacity of the continent's 
electricity utilities to deliver essential se rvices in a commercially viable manner. 
G. USAID' S SOUTH ASIA REGIONAL INITIATIVE FOR ENERGY (SARI/E NERGY )   
41. The SARI/Energy programme focuses on regiona l approaches to meet South Asia's energy 
security needs through increased trade, investment and access to clean energy.  Three of the eight 
partner countries in SARI/Energy are WTO-Member LDCs, specifically Nepal, Bangladesh, and the 
Maldives.  Numerous exchanges have occurred in 2006 and 2007, which embody technological 
transfer.  Recent significant SARI initiatives include: 
• Fostering a partnership agreement among two US-based utility companies and the 
Dhaka Electric Supply Company Limited (DESCO). 
• Sponsorship of an exchange between 15 South Asian energy executives and 
counterparts from the Southern Africa Power Pool.  Participants discussed approaches 
for attracting investment, managing energy ma rkets in deficit power situations and 
analyzing power trading strategies. 
• Conducting a feasibility study on interconnec tions between Bangladesh's power grid 
and India's eastern and northeastern grids,  including potential interconnections 
involving Nepal and Bhutan.  IP/C/W/497/Add.5 
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  • Supplying Nepalese farmers with Indian-developed solar technology used to preserve 
surplus fruits, vegetables and spices. 
X. GENERAL INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY  RIGHTS-RELATED PROGRAMMES  
A. USPTO  GLOBAL INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ACADEMY  
42. The United States Patent and Trademark O ffice (USPTO) trains and offers technical 
assistance on intellectual property protection and en forcement to countries around the world including 
Least developed countries.  In 2007, the USPTO conducted over 135 training and technical assistance 
programmes for officials from 145 countries . 
43. This past year, the USPTO completed construc tion of a Global Intellectual Property Academy 
that includes a 20,000 square-foot training facility at  its headquarters in Alexandria, VA.  Through 
this new dedicated space, the USPTO can more effi ciently deliver targeted training to foreign IP 
officials.  Training focuses on pertinent informati on for judges, prosecutors, customs officers, and 
other government officials.  Least Developed Co untry representatives attended 12 Global IP Academy 
programmes in 2007 as well as additional programmes at the USPTO such as the State Department's 
International Visitor Leadership Programme and the Foreign Mission Embassy Programme.  
Countries represented at these programmes included: Bangladesh, Cambodia, Democratic Republic of 
the Congo, The Gambia, Guinea, Lesotho, Madagascar , Malawi, Nepal, United Republic of Tanzania, 
Togo, and Zambia. 
44. Additionally, the USPTO continues to train o fficials in countries throughout the world.  
Programmes are focused on intellectual property en forcement as well as patent, trademark, and 
copyright policy and best practices.  Least de veloped country officials attended many USPTO 
programmes throughout the world this past y ear.  Participants at these programmes included 
government officials from: Benin, Burundi, Ca mbodia, Central African Republic, The Gambia, 
Guinea, Haiti, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Senegal, Solomon Isla nds, United Republic of 
Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, and Zambia. 
45. The United States provides further elaboration of its training and technology transfer 
activities specific to intellectual property right s in its 2007 Report submitted pursuant to TRIPS 
Article 67.  
XI. ADDITIONAL ILLUSTRATIVE COUNTRY-SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES 
46. The following LDC-specific examples are inte nded to provide additional illustrations of 
United States activities being carried out in connec tion with the provision of incentives for technology 
transfer. 
A. ANGOLA  
47. The US Department of Commerce, through the offices of its Commercial Law Development 
Programme (CLDP), reviewed and improved curricu lum and training materials related to CLDP's 
implementation of modern case management techniqu es at Angolan provincial courts.  Additionally, 
CLDP produced an Implementation Audit Guide for the Angolan Justice Ministry officials to use 
when auditing the docket books at pr ovincial courts.  In April and June 2007, CLDP worked with the 
Portuguese and Angolan Ministries of Justice to train Angolan IT technicians on court management 
software.  By December 2007, the Angolan Minist ry of Justice will assume responsibility for building 
the capacity of Angolan clerks to train one another on the court management software.  IP/C/W/497/Add.5 
Page 10  
 
  48. Bangladesh:  The US Centers for Disease Cont rol (CDC) – under the auspices of the US 
Department of Health and Human Services – has pa rtnered with International Centre for Diarrhoeal 
Disease Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR,B) to do  pioneering work on infectious diseases and 
treatment.  Most recently, CDC and other US Gove rnment donors have suppor ted the development of 
laboratory capacity at ICDDRB for testing the tr ansmission of Avian Influenza from animals to 
humans. 
49. Guinea:  USAID/Guinea is transferring im proved agricultural and natural resources 
management technologies to selected Guinean resour ce users such as farmers and forest managers 
through the improvement of agricultural research fac ilities, the provision of agricultural and forestry 
training, information exchanges (nationally and regionally), and the establishment of co-forest 
management contracts between resource users and the Government of Guinea. 
50. In addition, USAID/Guinea is working with the Guinean Government to establish policy 
incentives for resource users to adopt improved te chnologies and land manageme nt practices.  These 
policies include the establishment and approval of the Guinean Forestry Code, forest management 
guidelines, improved business practices, cash crop market assessments (e.g., regional West Africa 
cashew nut production), and the use of classified for ests for intensified agricultural production.  In 
FY 2007, an additional 43,000 hectares of land ar e now under improved technologies or management 
practices as a result of US assistance.  In addition, 35 producer organizations, water users 
associations, trade and business associations, and/or  community-based organizations now receive US 
assistance. 
B. D
EMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO   
51. The US Trade Development Agency (USTDA) provi ded experts in early 2007 to analyze the 
electricity sector in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), with an eye towards the feasibility 
of both commercial and community hydroelectricity supply.  Two projects, a commercial project in 
the mining sector of Katanga province, and a co mmunal project for the heavily populated but 
underserved North Kivu and Orientale provinces of northeast DRC are being developed.  Pending 
agreement from the state electri c company, USTDA is poised to provide US$500,000 for a feasibility 
study for the commercial project in Katanga.   
52. Additionally, in August 2007, USTDA provided experts to DRC to analyze rail and river 
transportation infrastructure in need of rehabilitati on.  Preliminary ideas are focusing on the need for 
dredging, channel marking and GPS navigational systems for the Congo River and a few of its 
tributaries, areas in which US companies have comp etency and are in a position to transfer important 
technologies.  USTDA is expected to propose a full -fledged feasibility study before the end of 2007, 
to be completed in early 2008.   
C. MOZAMBIQUE   
53. In March 2006 the second USAID and US Ener gy Association (USEA) executive exchange 
visit with Electriçidade de Moçambique (EdM) took place in Maputo, Mozambique.  The exchange 
focused on expanding transmission to reach rura l populations, increasing employee productivity and 
manager relations, reducing technical  distribution losses, and improving power plant operations and 
maintenance.  During the week, Ed M managers and field staff met w ith the Operations Managers of 
the Bonneville Dam/US Army Corps of Engineers,  Bonneville Power Admini stration, and others. 
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