Bangkok (AsiaNews) – The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) has decided to award its first Global Leaders Award to King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand. This was announced by Bankgok’s Foreign Affairs Minister.
WIPO, a United Nations agency that deals with international norms related to intellectual property, decided to award the monarch for his decade-long commitment to the issue and for having contributed to bettering the life of peasants in his country through intellectual property.
The award is for those who “support the development of a community, creative ideas and innovation.”
King Bhumibol, also known as Rama IX, was born on December 5, 1927 in Cambridge in the United States. Married to Princess Sirikit Kitiyakara he has reigned over Thailand since May 5, 1950. He is the ninth king of the Chakkri dynasty, which has reigned in Thailand since 1782.