One-Stop-Shop cuts time of issuing licences

The Ministry of Trade ONE-STOP BUSINESS FACILITATION CENTRE (OBFC) has reduced the number of days it takes to obtain Traders’ and Industrial licences in Lesotho from 35 to 5.

A report released by the Private Sector Competitiveness (PSC) Project this week says this is one of the milestones reached by the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Cooperatives Marketing in the third quarter of the year 2009/10.

The OBFC is an initiative of the Government of Lesotho that is aimed at Improving the Business Environment by reducing the time and cost of doing business in Lesotho. The OBFC is a facility that houses representatives of various government departments and agencies that are involved in registration and licensing of businesses in Lesotho as well as those that issue residence and work permits. These include the Ministry of Trade Licensing division; the Immigration Department of the Ministry of Home Affairs; the Department of Labour; and the Lesotho Revenue Authority.

The OBFC has increased the frequency of board approvals from once a month to weekly. This move makes it possible for the applicants to obtain feedback and appeal every week.

The centre has also moved from manual to computerised operations, making registrations and data management quicker.

The report says although there are some institutional challenges facing the OBFC, , a strategy that provides a good basis for operation of the new company law, the new business licensing regime, as well as for the issuance of both residence and work permits has been adopted and operationalized.

The overall performance of the PSC Project is hampered by delay in the promulgation of the new company registration and business licensing laws, and this will continue to negatively affect Lesotho’s rankings in the Doing Business Indicators, However, the report states that “This is a significant achievement compared to 35 days registered during the preparation phase of the project”.

Ends.

For more information:
The full report - www.psc.org.ls
Mrs. Mary Motebang
Director of Trade a.i
Ministry of Trade and Industry, Cooperatives and Marketing
+266 2231 3737
externaltrade@leo.co.ls