Govt to check multiplicity of licenses to enhance ease of doing business

<Commerce, Trade and Industry Minister, Chipoka Mulenga, says government is pushing for single business licensing mechanisms to minimise the number of requirements to do business.

Mulenga said his Ministry was in talks with the Finance Ministry and that of Local Government and Rural Development to harmonise the issue of business licensing.

“We’re looking at reducing a number of business licenses for a business to operate, this current scenario cannot continue for us to develop,” he said in Kitwe on Thursday during the inauguration of Kitwe District Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KDCCI) new office park.

Mulenga said there was need for business to pay one business levy that combined fire, health and safety, saying the multiplicity of licenses had been contributing to the high cost of doing business.

He told the business community that his Ministry would not leave any stone unturned in ensuring that business environment was levelled.

In reaction to KDCCI president’s proposal to come up with taxes banks for income and corporate tax, Mulenga said he would transmit the proposal to the Ministry of Finance.

Mbambiko earlier submitted that the multiplicity of business licenses was a drawback to businesses.

He also said the government should come up with tax bands to help Small and Medium Enterprises grow rather than having a one size fits all arrangement.

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