Lesotho Business Registration Project

Lesotho Business Registration Project

The Lesotho Business Registration Project is transforming the way businesses are created and regulated by developing a fully digital single window for business registration and licensing.

Implemented by the One-Stop Business Facilitation Centre (OBFC) under the Ministry of Trade, Industry, Business Development and Tourism, with technical support from UNCTAD and financing from the World Bank through the CAFI Project, the initiative supports the modernization and full implementation of the Business Licensing and Registration Act, 2019.

The new integrated platform is currently under development. It represents a major step in Lesotho’s digital and regulatory transformation, fostering a more inclusive, secure, and investment-friendly business environment.

Project timeline July 2024 - Ongoing
Key training events N/A
What the project delivers
  • A unified digital single window for business registration and licensing
  • Fully online services for company incorporation, amendments, licensing, and deregistration
  • Full implementation of the Business Licensing and Registration Act, 2019 and its regulations
  • Interoperability with key government systems: tax, statistics, identity verification, and banking
  • Digital certificates with QR codes and a searchable public registry
  • Legally compliant processes in line with national and international standards (e.g. AML/CFT, corporate transparency)
  • Hosting in national data centers with secure infrastructure and disaster recovery
  • Comprehensive training and system handover for long-term local ownership

Key benefits

Enables end-to-end digital business creation and compliance from anywhere
Aligns digital services with Lesotho’s updated legal and regulatory framework
Reduces administrative burden and improves transparency for entrepreneurs and investors
Fosters inter-agency data exchange and smarter public service delivery
Enhances policy-making with real-time business data and analytics
Strengthens institutional capacity and ensures system sustainability