Wipo Approves Revised Budget, Reflecting New Chief's Priorities

摘要

Geneva - Members of the World Intellectual Property Organization have approved a revised program and budget for the 2008/2009 biennium, reflecting what new Director General Francis Gurry described as a realignment of the organization's strategic goals to address future challenges.rnThe 628 million Swiss franc (US$532 million) budget and reorientation of spending was approved at a special meeting of WIPO's ruling General Assembly. The spending is only 0.3 percent higher than the earlier 626 million franc biennium budget approved last March.rnIn an introduction to the budget proposal, Gurry, who took up his post on October 1, said the realigned spending plans are intended to enable WIPO to "fulfill itsrnmandate efficiently and effectively within a rapidly evolving external environment". "There is much to be done, and Member States have made clear their expectation that the new Administration should lose no time in taking forward the process of organizational change," he added. "This revised Program and Budget enables us to take the first major step in that process."