Bahrain to expedite commercial licensing process

The Ministry of Industry and Commerce of the Kingdom of Bahrain launched its Business Licensing Integrated System (BLIS) on Wednesday.

The system allows business entities to complete required paperwork online, which will reduce the time it takes to be approved while also saving business owners a trip to the Investor's Center or related government office.

Minister of Industry and Commerce Zayed bin Rashid AlZayani said the system is a major step forward. He stated that it eliminates inefficiency with paperwork and provides a paperless environment that is conducive to related governmental agencies in the commercial licensing process. He also explained that the BLIS facilitates cooperation between the different areas of the government.

The program's initial testing in 2014 included consulting with more than 20 departments, offices and other governing bodies in order to determine what information and legislative matters would need to be included in the system relating to approximately 1,800 kinds of activities that businesses regularly take part in.

The Ministry of the Interior, Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Justice and Islamic Affairs, among several others, took part in the development of the BLIS.