Somaliland, withsupport from IFC, has launched an online one–stop–shop business registration and licensing system (BRLS)to speed, simplify, and reduce costs for businesses and entrepreneurs.
The new system, found is part of Somaliland’s wider strategy to strengthen its private sector and encourage economic growth and job creation.
Reducing lengthy registration and licensing procedures will save businesses time and operational costs, especially smaller and informal businesses seeking to formalize their operations.
The Ministry of Trade and Tourism ran a seven–month pilot of the system (from December-2021 to June -2022) allowingit to be further enhanced and optimized ahead of a formal launch in June 29, 2022.
The BRLS is being delivered by the Ministry of Trade in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance and Office of the Attorney General.
“We will now offer a world–class registration and licensing system to our business community in Somaliland,” Minister of Trade and Tourism, Hon. Muhamoud Hassan Sa‘ad, said.
“This reform is a result of a successful collaboration involving counterpart Government institutions, the private sector, and IFC. My Ministry is determined to offer fast and easy registration and licensing services to the private sector. I therefore urge our businesses, especially informal businesses, to take advantage of this resource to register and to comply with government licensing requirements.”
The web-based system is a one–stop–shop resource that allows entrepreneurs to register and apply for business licenses from their homes or offices, removing the need to visit the Ministry of Trade offices.
BRLS will offer a range of services including reserving a business name, registering a new business and changing the particulars of an existing business.
Users can also access the system to obtain a tax identification number through its integration with the Ministry of Finance, close or wind up a business, acquire or renew business licenses, and search the registry’s business information database.
Additionally, BRLS provides a variety of resources including relevant laws and regulations, online user guides and information on registration and licensing fees and tariffs, among other resources.
