Over 1300 personnel at 16 custom checkpoints to receive training on identification of counterfeit goods entering the country - KSA counterfeit brands market close to US$ 4 billion p.a.

Jeddah, 23, May 2009: International Trade Mark World (ITMW) - a leading KSA-based organization engaged in the fight against commercial fraud, counterfeiting and trademarks protection in the Kingdom - has started conducting a specialized training program for Saudi Custom inspection staff across all international port of entries.

Branded 'EFFECTING CHANGE,' the program will train inspectors responsible for inspecting in-bound shipments at all international seaports, airports and borders of Saudi Arabia, with a view to developing their inspection expertise and know how on counterfeit identification. The first of these trainings was recently conducted at Jeddah, Riyadh, Dammam and Madinah, where Sea port & Airport inspectors attended the program.

"The need for this program has been keenly felt for some time now," said Abdullah Arifi, CEO ITMW. "While Saudi Custom employs some of the best inspection personnel in the country, counterfeit identification needs specific skills and constant update of knowledge. We are happy to share our experience in this field, and cooperate with Saudi Custom in any way possible in our common fight against spurious goods."  

"We felt that we need to update the knowledge of our inspectors, as the government is serious about meeting the challenge to public safety, posed by counterfeiters," said Abdullah Arifi, CEO , Saudi Customs. "This training will not only provide the techniques and tips on planning and execution of anti-counterfeit operations, it will also share methodologies on how to make inspection a positive experience for the inspectors of Saudi Customs."

The program shares a wide variety of experience and information on counterfeiting, while focusing on the public damage these counterfeiters cause. The topics covered during this program include methodologies adopted by the global network of counterfeiters; impact of counterfeiting on consumer and local economy; critical steps and key requirements for successful inspections against spurious goods, highlighting important things to look for in documents and shipments; global counterfeit manufacturing facilities and shipping routes to KSA; case studies; product design and characteristics of original products; etc.

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Wael Sabri
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Email : wael@raeepr.com
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© Press Release 2009