Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Wakes Up Early Because Life Doesn’t Await Those Asleep!!

Source: Amer Abdel Salam


Talal Abu-Ghazaleh is the vice-chair of the UN Global Compact Board since 2007, and chairman of the Afro-Asian Knowledge-Based Society Initiative (2009). Meeting him is quite an opportunity, even if the Baladna newspaper went out of its way to host him, as we believe that the reader has the right to know who owns the largest Intellectual Property (IP) company in the world.

The Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Organization is the Arab organization for capacity-building in the Arab region. What Abu-Ghazaleh says in this regard is “Everything that we do is in the field of developing Arab capacities, whether they are financial, accounting, Intellectual Property or IT related”. He described that the Arab region as a crawling child and adding that we should not compare ourselves with European and American nations. Also, we should not be unfair to ourselves by looking at the past, since the aforementioned nations controlled their own destinies since hundreds of years ago.

The beginning as Abu-Ghazaleh sees it was humble in 1972, where “with our own method, we established the first office in Kuwait, and then began with other branches of the Organization, and now we have 150 representative offices throughout the world, and the largest Intellectual Property company in the world. This is a source of pride for Arabs, and is indicative of the Arab capability to excel. We do not have a problem with the Westerners, and our history established the foundations of the civilizations of the world, which also supports us and integrates us into the future. We have a great people in their capabilities and competence. There are also leaders and rulers who provided us with the support and did not hold back in anything they could offer, because they realize that what we are doing is in the interest of the Arab economy and the interest of Arab nations.”

What is the secret of the interest in Intellectual Property protection?
Protection is required to encourage creativity, to develop a strong economy, and to move from a phase of receiving technology to that of developing it and inventing it. In the technically advanced world, the countries call for more strict IP enforcement IP locally, because this is the most stringent system in Western nations that encourages inventors to develop and invest.

The concept of IP has grown since 1971 over the years, and all Arab countries have laws and legislations that are equivalent to global laws and legislations in addition to those administered by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) which is responsible for property agreements.

Now there are IP laws that require development, and after legislation there is the issue of education, and executing the system. This requires training; namely training of judges and lawyers. We advise to allocate special chambers in courts for IP, and we’ve been able to convince many states to create such chambers.

What is the purpose behind the programs that the organization develops?
The objective is training all segments of society (lawyers, judges or officials in companies and governmental sectors). So the aim is developing the concept of IP, and encouraging the Arab citizens to invest in progress and innovation, such that the investors guarantee that they can utilize their investments commercially. So someone cannot spend 10 million dollars for example to develop a certain invention, if there is somebody who will steal it.

Development of the Syrian Law…
Syrian laws are compatible with international regulations, and this is the view of Abu-Ghazaleh. He says: “Through the Syrian judiciary, we were able to acquire our rights, which affirms the fact that legislative and legal infrastructure protects all right holders. We must realize that there is nothing called ‘law of the jungle’ except in Israel, according to the testimony of the American negotiator.

How does Talal Abu-Ghazaleh view the Syrian economy in light of the global crisis?
Syria does not depend on the American market or American investments, and does not exist in the American money market. So it is the least country that has suffered from this crisis and the most that has benefitted. At a time where many countries have been badly affected due to their relationship with the USA, however, in our region, there is no real partner for America. Rather, the Arab countries are a market for the American products, and an exporter of capital. In many issues we find ourselves and in accordance with our relation with the USA, affected by the crisis.
Syria survived this crisis because of the American stand towards it, which assisted Syria more than hurting it. The Syrian economy –which we are following through legislations, laws and studies – is moving in slow steps and continuous prosperity. If it slows down, then any sudden change is followed by a setback. So development in the Syrian economy is well-studied, and it is positive and correct. So the next ten years, because of the crisis, will be the best years in Syria’s economy, especially since we are seeing noticeable progress in all Syrian economic sectors.

How do you view the economic crisis?
The economic crisis is in the imaginary market of “shares and bonds” and these do not benefit the national product. The economic crisis will begin this year in the main market, and will begin in the USA and UK. It will be measure against the problem of inactivity which will take place in the economy. I believe the economic crisis will reflect on the Arab region, in an amount that corresponds to the region’s dependence on America.
One journalist’s article states “If you hear the analyses of Abu-Ghazaleh of the economic globalization dimensions and its connections to political and economic subordination and its repercussions on the developing region, you’d laugh at the naïve understanding that some people present in regards to globalization.” Don’t you believe that economic globalization has entered into our homes?

Economic globalization came from an unknown and undetermined definition, and it is a term that globalization marketers desired to say that we are moving towards one world that does not have borders or limitations between countries in exchange between services. So the matter demands three requirements: financial institutions that facilitate the commercial process, telecommunications technology that assists this process and a commercial system that eliminates imposed limitations and barriers. This is what happened, and the World Trade Organization has made significant leaps in the field of trade. Yet the Organization has been in a state of clinical death since that date. Yet on the other hand, if it is an evil necessity so to speak, then I’d rather be part of it than outside of it.

On the sideline of the dialogue
I’m proud to be an Arab, and do not feel any inadequacy, but rather Arab excellence, even in the most difficult circumstances. After the events of September 11th attacks I was elected as the Chairman of the Working Group on Human Resources and Capacity Building (HRCB) of the United Nations Information and Communication Technologies Task Force (New York-USA). During the session I said “I thank you for electing me as your chairman even though I am a Palestinian, a Muslim and an Arab.” After ten seconds or so, the hall fell silent, but suddenly applause erupted, because I spoke to them in a positive manner.


The available and the busy
You are Vice-Chair of the UN Global Compact since 2007, and chairman of the Afro-Asian Knowledge-Based Society Initiative (2009), in addition to positions in various fields and a consultative member in many bodies and organizations. So when do you find time for your private life?

The saying goes that “If you want the work to get done, give it to someone who is busy”. I tell my colleagues that there isn’t anyone who is productive who has nothing to do. Rather, the person who is productive is he who is busy. I am satisfied in my familial relationship and supported by it. I can use my capabilities for my country. So if we are not successful, we will not work and accomplish.

The Summit
I have not arrived and haven’t done anything yet. This is a phase in the march of this nation, and this nation shall return one day with a true civilization and advancement. This is because the Arab civilization was built on the moral dimension and not the material one. Today we see that there is technical advancement but on the other hand there is a regression in moral values. There will be those who come along and continue what we began. Up till now I have not done anything, but I believe in the future of the nation.

I learned from life

What I learned from life is a set of article and ideas that I have absolute faith in. I practice these sayings and ideas in my work, thoughts and formulation of decisions. One of these sayings includes “God distributes livelihoods prior to sunrise, so who sleeps till noon will not find any livelihood”. This is a nice proverb, but very expressive.

Who would you like to thank?

I thank many people who stood with me; my small family including my wife and children, and my larger family including my colleagues and the employees who work for me, who are also my sons and daughters and the secret behind my strength.

Who would you like to apologize to?

I apologize whenever I make a mistake, and say that if I issue five correct decisions out of ten, then I’m happy. Apology is a strength despite the fact that some people believe it is a weakness. I always apologize to my children in the case there is an incorrect decision, and this process makes me happy. I am happiest when I apologize because I realize that the mistake is over.

Fairuz

Fairuz is the best singer who sang for Palestine. She presented many creative songs and their value is priceless. To me, art is what serves the cause, and anything else is not considered art.


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