Promotion of intellectual property rights can help propel the country to a knowledge-based economy, MPs have been told.

The Secretary General of the Ministry of Commerce, Investment Promotion, Tourism and Cooperatives, Justin Nsengiyimva, said yesterday that intellectual property rights were crucial for the enhancement of people’s talents and innovation.

He was speaking at the commencement of a two-day workshop for lawmakers on intellectual property rights at Parliamentary Buildings, Kimihurura.

Nsengiyumva said the Government was keen to protect people from duplication of their work by others, adding that it encourages investments in such areas as literature, entertainment and culture.

MP Elysée Bisengimana, the chairman of the Chamber of Deputies’ Standing Committee on Education, Culture and Youth, said that the committee has already wound up debate on the intellectual property rights bill, but was yet to be tabled before the plenary.

"We want legislators to first understand the technicalities and the general concept of intellectual property rights before we could table the bill before them for discussion," he said.

Speaker Alfred Mukezamfura, who opened the workshop, said that the training would help increase MPs’ understanding on issues related to patent rights.

The workshop is being conducted behind closed doors.

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