Online Business Registration Goes Live
Lesedi Mkhutshwa | Monday June 3, 2019 17:17
According to the Companies and Intellectual Property Authority (CIPA) all active and operating companies have to go online to see the requirements and fill in forms for the registration.
Those wishing to register new businesses will also be required to follow the same procedures, but start with selecting a unique business name for CIPA’s selection.
Both existing and potential companies’ registrations will be processed and if successful, CIPA will issue company registration documents within 24 hours.
Acting Investment, Trade and Industry minister, Karabo Gare said the OBRS was a key part of the country’s doing business reforms aimed at optimising the efficiency of the local business environment.
Addressing a business-networking forum at last week’s 25th Business Botswana Northern Trade Fair, Gare said government has completed half of the reforms on the Doing Business Roadmap it adopted in 2015.
“These include the passing of legislation such as the Company’s Re-registration Act, Company’s Act amendments, Registration of Business Names Act and others,” he said.
“The ministry is currently reviewing the Trade Act to further ease the process of starting a business. We are aiming for the amendments to be considered by the July session of Parliament.”
He added that various other pieces of legislation that affect the ease of doing business have been prioritised for the next parliamentary sitting.
“The ministry’s mandate is to create a conducive business environment, promote investment and help the development of sustainable industries and trade,” he said.
Gare said government is also keen to ensure a coordinated approach towards Small, Micro and Medium Enterprises development, investment promotion and export development.
He added that a focus on these key areas would ensure the achievements of economic diversification as well as economic growth.
“The private sector should be the key drivers of sustainable and inclusive economic growth.
“As government, we would like to see the private sector claim its role in transforming Botswana into a high-income economy.
“The idea is to transform Botswana into a knowledge-based economy, which would result in job creation, especially for the youth.”