Trade Commission to be a ‘one-stop shop’ business operators

The new Business License Act that passed in the House of Assembly days ago is expected to make the Trade Commission a ‘one-stop shop’ for people who wish to operate a business in the territory.

Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Premier and Minister of Finance Dr Natalio Wheatley highlighted how businesses have a difficult time getting their relevant documents to obtain their trade licenses.

He said the Act seeks to remedy the situation.

“Businesses have such a difficult time sometimes getting a Good Standing Certificate from different agencies. Of course, Inland Revenue, Social Security, NHI and so forth. Sometimes they have a difficult time getting work permits approved and things like that. You want to truly be able to provide a one-stop-shop where you can go to one agency and this particular agency,” the Premier said.

“The Trade Commission will be in communication with the Labour Department, Immigration Department and all these other agencies. Of course, they will do their internal processes as opposed to sending the business owners here there and everywhere. We hope that things will be more efficient. That is our hope that persons will be able to get their licenses more quickly,” Dr Wheatley added.

Policy Analyst and Strategic Adviser in the Office of the Premier, Lizette George said the main purpose of reviewing the existing Business Professions and Trade Licence Act was to streamline the system of licensing with clear standards and requirements to reduce the lengthy timeframe for obtaining a licence.

“One of the aims to achieving this was to facilitate interdepartmental communication among government agencies in terms of creating synergy, as well as to provide central services through a one-stop-shop approach to providing services to the business community,” George said.

“Also taken into consideration was the need to create a more relaxed environment to enable Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises to develop, grow and thrive within the economy, as more support structures will be put in place to ensure their development and survival,” the strategic adviser added.

Meanwhile, Dr Wheatley said his government hopes the approval process for trade licenses will be more straightforward. He admitted that a framework currently does not exist.

“A lot of things have been left up to the discretion of various persons including the Director of Trade and the Minister for Trade etcetera. We want to take away some of that uncertainty and some of that level of discretion,” the Premier said.