Parliament - Government has tabled a bill before parliament establishing an arbitration centre in Kigali to supplement courts in the settlement of commercial disputes.

Tabling the bill in parliament yesterday, Justice Minister Tharcisse Karugarama said when voted into law "the initiative will go a long way to smoothen business operations in the country.”

Karugarama said the centre which is the first of its kind in Rwanda will be called the Kigali International Arbitration Centre and arbitrators will be persons with versatile experience on arbitration matters.

The Minister who was accompanied by the Executive Secretary for the Private Sector Federation, Emmanuel Hategeka told parliament that establishment of the centre was in the spirit of "easing doing business” in Rwanda.

"At the end of this year, commercial courts will have cleared a backlog of disputes they inherited from classical courts…however, some people have indicated they prefer arbitration to courts,” he noted.

The Centre which to be supervised by the Private Sector Federation will be supported by government initially but eventually source its own funds.

Karugarama added that the centre will be independent, non profit and with an international stature.

Meanwhile, parliament which ended a two month recess yesterday also debated bills relating to immigration and the electoral code in the country.

Ends