58,000 businesses qualify for BIPA waiver

Over 58,000 businesses remain eligible for the Business and Intellectual Property Authority's (BIPA) waiver programme aimed at helping companies regularise their affairs and improve compliance.

The announcement was made on Friday when BIPA and the Office of the Prime Minister officially launched the operational One Stop Centre and confirmed the continuation of the waiver programme.

According to BIPA chief executive officer Ainna Kaundu, the initiatives are intended to reduce the cost of doing business, remove administrative barriers and make it easier for entrepreneurs to start, operate and grow businesses.

BIPA said the previous waiver programme benefited about 28,000 entities. The authority expects the latest initiative to encourage more informal businesses to enter the formal economy while helping existing businesses remain compliant.

The newly operational One Stop Centre brings key government services together under one roof to reduce delays and simplify business processes.