OECS Launches Training Program to Enhance Business Registration in Eastern Caribbean
The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) has launched a consultancy to deliver a training program to assist the Registrars of Companies in Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines with integrating a new, updated platform for the online registration and incorporation of companies.
Improving Business Registration Processes
The Eastern Caribbean has significantly improved its business registration processes under the Regional Integration Through Growth Harmonisation and Technology. This initiative is part of broader regional efforts to implement the commitments under the Revised Treaty of Basseterre, which aims to promote the free movement of people, goods, and services within the region.
The Right of Establishment
The Right of Establishment, particularly within the Eastern Caribbean Economic Union (ECEU) and the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME), is a key component of these efforts. By contributing to the single jurisdiction mandate to modernize the business registration process, the OECS Commission is encouraged that businesses within the region could thrive in a more efficient, transparent, and accessible environment.
New Platform: One Stop Shop Business Registration System (OSS BRS)
This new platform follows the development work of the Regional Online Companies Registry System (OCRS) by the Guyana-based Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat in 2014, which sought to streamline and enhance the ease of doing business in the region. The new platform, OSS BRS, will replace the OCRS and boasts many new benefits to delivering government services. Designed with the latest technology, it provides a more user-friendly and integrated approach to business registration.
Training Program
The Commission said that in preparation for the system’s rollout, it hosted a regional virtual inception meeting that officially introduced the consultancy team responsible for implementing the training workshops and offered stakeholders across the OECS region a first-hand look at the OSS BRS. Participants also had the opportunity to witness a live demonstration of the system’s automated functions, which were designed to significantly enhance the process of registering businesses.
Conclusion
The training workshops will begin in January 2025, marking a crucial step in improving the ease of doing business in the OECS. By empowering government officials and service providers with the tools to navigate the new system, the OECS Commission aims to foster a more efficient, accessible, and modern business environment across the region. This important initiative is expected to not only boost the ease of doing business but also to contribute to regional integration and economic growth, benefiting businesses and entrepreneurs throughout the OECS and CARICOM regions.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the purpose of the training program?
The training program is designed to assist Registrars of Companies in Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines with integrating a new, updated platform for online registration and incorporation of companies. - What is the new platform, OSS BRS?
The One Stop Shop Business Registration System (OSS BRS) is a new platform that replaces the Regional Online Companies Registry System (OCRS) and provides a more user-friendly and integrated approach to business registration. - When will the training workshops begin?
The training workshops will begin in January 2025. - What are the benefits of the new platform?
The new platform allows for electronic submission and processing of company registration applications, business names, and other legal entities, reducing the time and complexity traditionally associated with these processes.
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