On June 11, 2025, Mr. YASUDA, the Deputy Commissioner of the Japan Patent Office (JPO), visited the Ministry of Industry and Commerce of Laos and, in the presence of Mr. VONGSAY, Vice-Minister of the Ministry of Industrial and Commerce of Laos, reached an agreement on a new cooperation statement with the Department of Intellectual Property of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce of Laos (DIP), which is set to commence substantive patent examinations. This cooperation statement includes training cooperation for newly recruited patent examiners at the Lao DIP in preparation for the commencement of substantive patent examinations. The agreement will further deepen the cooperative relationship between Japan and Laos in the field of patent examination.

Additionally, on June 13, a visit was made to the Department of Intellectual Property of the Ministry of Commerce of Thailand (DIP), where discussions were held regarding future Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) initiatives and cooperation in the training of patent examiners at the Thailand DIP.

Source: https://www.jpo.go.jp//e/news/ugoki/202506/2025061601.html