The Department of Economic Development (DED) in Dubai has announced the opening of online registration of delegates for the Dubai World Conference on Consumer Rights (DWCCR), a first-of-its-kind event on protecting consumer rights and intellectual property rights (IPR) across the retail sector in the Middle East.

Public and private sector representatives including businessmen, legal practitioners, consumer rights advocates, IPR experts and government officials concerned can register for the conference on dwccr.com

Over 500 delegates are expected to attend the conference to be held from the 1st to the 3rd of April 2013 at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC).

A 'Power Brands' exhibition, which will highlight the region's leading brands and the best practices in brand promotion, will also be part of the event, hosted by DED in association with Pepsi and Al Fajer Information & Services.

The Dubai World Conference on Consumer Rights will focus on strengthening consumer protection; creating awareness on consumer rights and related mechanisms and laws in place; opportunities, challenges and future strategies in consumer protection and IPR; and the economic returns and consumer confidence gained from safeguarding consumer rights.

The topics listed for discussion at the conference include role of governments in protecting consumer rights and IPR, benefits of IPR and patent laws, consumer-driven retailing, importance of integrity in sales promotions, corporate social responsibility, protecting brands against counterfeiting, and aligning marketing strategies to modern consumer laws.

The conference and exhibition are part of DED's efforts towards creating a sustainable economic environment that adopts best standards and policies in protecting consumers and brands, thereby enhancing transparency and impartiality in the retail sector in Dubai.

"Besides exploring the regional consumer rights and IPR landscape, the Dubai World Conference on Consumer Rights provides a unique opportunity to consumers, retailers, brands owners, non-governmental organisations and governments to close gaps and create a common platform to share knowledge, experience, ideas and concerns," commented Mohammed Rashid Lootah, Deputy CEO of Commercial Compliance & Consumer Protection sector in DED.

The conference will host a number of international and local opinion leaders and decision-makers, including executives, government officials, economists and researchers from different industry sectors, and other professionals dealing with consumer protection and brands globally.

"Delegates at the conference can listen to the best practices in retailing, IPR and consumer protection tried and tested across five continents, including Europe and North America. The keynote speeches and panel discussions led by local, regional and international experts will also provide clear perspectives and insights on achieving a robust and competitive retailing environment," said Lootah.

The Power Brands exhibition will attract major trademarks worldwide to exchange views and discuss the most prominent concepts related to brands and their promotion. Standing at the forefront of consumer forums worldwide, the participating companies will seize the opportunity to demonstrate progressive policies and interact with traders and investors, while also enhancing their brand visibility and credibility.