Distinguished participants, partners, colleagues,

Ladies and gentlemen,

It is my pleasure to join the Anti-Counterfeiting – 2025 Forum today – 

One of the region’s leading platforms for dialogue between public and private sectors on this important topic. 

I am also glad to see so many dedicated partners, experts and leaders gathered in one room to work together.  

As global trade evolves and digital transformation speeds up, counterfeiting has become more than a commercial or legal concern.  

It is a barrier to sustainable development. Illicit markets and counterfeiting erode economies, destroy livelihoods, and divert resources from public services. The most vulnerable bear the heaviest burden. 

As the United Nations' leading development agency, UNDP works in over 170 countries and territories to eradicate poverty and reduce inequalities. We support the economic, social, and environmental pillars of a society to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals while making sure that no one is left behind.  

We see firsthand how counterfeiting threatens the inclusive economic growth that lies at the heart of sustainable and inclusive development.  

Ladies and gentlemen,  

Traditional enforcement alone cannot solve this complex challenge. We need innovative, human-centered solutions that engage multiple stakeholders. 

This also means finding new ways to recognize and unlock the full value of legitimate innovation.  

This is why UNDP in Belarus, together with the State Committee on Science and Technology are collaborating on the valuation of intangible assets.  

Together, we are working to help transform intangible assets – inventions, designs, brands – into bankable assets that can unlock investment and drive growth. 

When businesses can leverage their intellectual property for loans, they unlock capital to grow, innovate, and better protect themselves from illicit competition. 

Ladies and gentlemen, 

Moving forward, allow me to share a vision for how we might collectively respond to counterfeiting.  

First, protecting products means protecting people.  

This means that by ensuring that the benefits of safe and legitimate markets reach everyone, we advance the principle of Leave No One Behind and safeguard human development from impacts of illicit trade. 

Second, we must complement legal enforcement with development-driven solutions that are both inclusive and sustainable.  

This entails that our focus must extend beyond enforcement measures to create inclusive economic opportunities, making legitimate ways of doing business accessible and more attractive to everyone than counterfeit trade. 

This Forum provides the ideal space to forge the multi-stakeholder partnerships needed to turn this vision into impact.  

Together, we can build an economy where innovation thrives, and counterfeiting finds no place to hide. 

I wish you a productive and inspiring dialogue. 

Thank you.