The State Agency on Intellectual Property (AGEPI) and the Camber of Trade and Industry of Moldova have launched the contests “Trademark of the year 2016” and “Quality Achievements Award”. These are open to enterprises and organizations of different forms of ownership, legal entities registered in Moldova and private individuals who produce goods or provide services on the country’s territory, IPN reports.
AGEPI director general Octavian Apostol told a news conference that the tax for taking part in the contest “Trademark of the year” last year was of 6,000 lei. This year it will be of 3,000 lei for large companies, while the small and medium-sized enterprises will benefit from a 50% reduction. The experts of AGEPI will perform a gratis audit to participating companies to determine the intellectual property potential and will formulate suggestions. The winners of the contest in each nomination will be able to use the logo “Trademark of the year” to promote themselves. “We consider these advantages are rather important, while the tax reduction will definitely offer more enterprises the possibility of taking part in this contest,” stated Octavian Apostol.
Sergiu Harea, chairman of the Chamber of Trade and Industry, said the contest “Trademark of the year” is part of the Moldovan Business Gala that will take place on June 8. Since 2003, more than 1,200 trademarks have taken part in the contest. “We promote these trademarks at exhibitions that we mount in the country and abroad. This year we pursue the objective of organizing the exhibition “Made in Moldova” in Romania, Belarus and Russia. It will be again an opportunity to promote the national trademarks on foreign markets,” stated Sergiu Harea.
As regards the Quality Achievements Award, this is conferred on companies that successfully implemented quality management and promote the principles of modern quality management. The contest is at the third edition. This involves micro and small enterprises with up to 49 employees and an annual turnover of up to 25 million lei, medium-sized enterprises with 49 to 249 employees and an annual turnover of up to 50 million lei, large enterprises with over 249 employees and an annual turnover of over 50 million lei, as well as natural monopole companies and dominant companies on relevant markets.
The deadline for applications is March 31.
