The Tribune

The Bahamas Business Outlook (BBO) series is rolling-out an "Ease of Doing Business" workshop, which will be conducted by Department of Inland Revenue (DIR) officials, at all seven conferences this year.

The workshop is a partnership between Outlook organisers, TCL Group, and the Ministry of Finance with the aim of improving The Bahamas' global ranking in the World Bank's "Ease of Doing Business" index. It was first introduced at the Eleuthera, Spanish Wells and Harbour Island Business Outlook in April 2018.

Joan Albury, creator of Bahamas Business Outlook, said the "Ease of Doing Business" workshop addresses matters that directly affect the business community in New Providence and all major family island communities. Nine Ministry of Finance officers will be involved in delivering the seminars.

"This workshop will introduce the business community to the ministry's recently established Internet-based process aimed at making business licensing processes easier, faster and better for Bahamian companies," she said. "It is ideal for current business owners and those considering going into their own business."

The key objectives of the programme include making the information for registration of new businesses more accessible to the public; introducing a combined application form for issuing approvals for business operation; and eliminating the need for filling in many forms and physically calling on each of the relevant government agencies to submit them. The new procedure thereby reduces approval delays which, in the past, have often proven costly in terms of time and money.

The goal is for Business Outlook participants to become more familiar with the new online application process,; how to complete and submit the relevant applications based on the nature of their business; where to access links for submission of forms; and to gain an overall, workable understanding of how the process works.

Those interested in the workshops should visit tclevents.com to register for the remainder of the 2018 Business Outlook Series: Andros, September 13; Abaco, September 30; Exuma, October 18; and Long Island, November 8.