We closed the year 2013 with a sense of optimism. We are seeing early signs of recovery in the European economy, and they also seem perceptible to the Benelux Office for Intellectual Property (BOIP).

We completed a number of major projects in the past year and continued to invest in automation. We are steadily working to digitise and optimise our client services further and to that end are increasingly working with our international partners.

It is with pride that we can say that BOIP is a sound organisation. The new Headquarters Agreement with host country the Netherlands will certainly make a positive contribution. We will continue to build for the future and have every confidence in the year 2014 and the ensuing years.