The BIMSTEC Conference on Protection of Traditional Knowledge and Genetic Resources was held on 21-22 May 2018 in Bangkok at the invitation of the Government of Thailand.

The conference was organized with the objective to exchange knowledge and experiences and to update the current situation on the protection of Genetic Resources (GR) & associated Traditional Medicine Knowledge (TMK), as well as to discuss the challenging issues on the development of biodiversity and related databases in the region, besides exploring the possibility of collaboration on GR & TMK with the relevant regional and international agencies, such as WIPO and WHO. Mr. Kunzang N. Tshering, Director in-charge of Public Health Sector in the BIMSTEC Secretariat attended the event.

The Conference agreed that Thailand will prepare the Final Concept Paper on the Protection of Genetic resources (GR) Associated with Traditional Medicine Knowledge (TMK) and Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) for the BIMSTEC and submit the same to the Secretariat as soon as possible for concurrence of the BIMSTEC Member States and to be implemented by the line agencies of the respective Member Countries.