THE GOVERNMENT has taken over the management of Iwacu Centre, a cooperative for training and research.

The centre was taken over by the Ministry of Trade and Industry on Thursday in order to offer wider services for business cooperatives.

The minister for trade and industry, François Kanimba, said that the centre will be known as the Rwanda Institute of Cooperatives, Entrepreneurship and Microfinance (RICEM).

Speaking during the take-over, the minister indicated that the centre will be boosted to offer efficient capacity building, technical advice, and research services for leaders of cooperatives.

Pio Mugabo, the Legal Representative for Iwacu A.S.B.L agrees with the minister.

"We are confident that the government’s takeover of the centre will improve its efficiency given the financial and logistical support that will come along,” he said.

The centre was set up in 1973 by the Rwandan government together with the Swiss government.

A five-year transition plan for the centre’s management will see 20 of the centre’s 39 staff laid off as part of the restructuring process.

"It’s likely that some of us may lose jobs, but at least we recognise the government’s commitment to this centre’s transformation,” said Omar Adrian, head of the training and advisory department at the centre.