Minister to table ICT bill

KIGALI - The Minister of Science and Technology in the President’s office, Prof. Romain Murenzi, has revealed that his ministry will soon present a draft ICT bill in parliament that will establish a law to govern science and technology. According to the minister, an effective commission is also needed to ensure that Rwanda’s rich research potential is exploited. “Very soon, we are going to have a law governing science and technology. The law will have an implementing agency for research and science promotion among other things. It will also clearly define what kind of science will be taught at every academic level,” Murenzi said. Murenzi said this while addressing a conference on the implementation of the National Policy for Science, Technology and Innovation (STI). According to Murenzi, this meeting is a platform through which, plans for technology transfer will also be discussed. “By inviting the heads of science and technology commissions from countries in the region and elsewhere, including stakeholders, we are strengthening our collaboration with other nations and as such, we are sharing ideas on how to boost science and technology,” he added. He also noted that implementing the national policy for STI introduces instruments that coordinate government interventions, interact with stakeholders in business and academia adding that this directs government financial and human resources to national development priorities. World Bank officials, African Development Bank representatives and others from the American Association for the Advancement of Science also attended. Over 80 experts in the science and technology field turned up from the regional countries of Uganda, Tanzania, and Kenya while others came from the USA. Ends