In what's being deemed a landmark move for its intellectual property or IP rights and its global business synergies, the Pudong New Area of East China's Shanghai has inaugurated a representative office of Abu-Ghazaleh Intellectual Property (AGIP) – a leading IP services firm from the Middle East.

Endorsed by the China National Intellectual Property Administration, this marks the inaugural presence of a Middle Eastern foreign patent agency in China. As such, it's said to signify a new chapter in IP protection and commercial activities in Pudong.

AGIP, a subsidiary of the Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Organization (TAG-Org) – the largest professional services group in the Arab world – is understood to offer a broad range of services including accounting, auditing, consulting, education and legal services.

The strategic move to Pudong is viewed as reflecting TAG-Org's commitment to global expansion and confidence in the Chinese market.

The establishment of AGIP's office is expected to provide top-tier IP services to Chinese companies, aiding their expansion into the profitable markets of the Middle East.

Pudong's authorities have taken great care in facilitating AGIP's establishment, offering efficient registrations, strategic location assistance and policy support. The local IP administration is also said to have played a key role in rallying sector-wide support to pave the way for the office's opening.

In line with the Belt and Road Initiative, plans are for Pudong to bolster services for local innovators eyeing the Middle East and North Africa. Promoting AGIP's office and tapping into TAG-Org's vast network, Pudong is also said to be poised to attract more foreign investment and share its strengths with the Arab world.

Officials said that AGIP's successful setup in Pudong was a milestone for the district's extensive IP reforms and set a model for future global partnerships.

They added that the office was focused on ramping up cooperation with international patent agencies, reinforcing Pudong's reputation as a stronghold of IP protection and a hub of institutional transparency and business amenability.