Africa-Press – Namibia. THERE were 7,3% fewer new businesses registered with the Business and Intellectual Property Authority (Bipa) last year than in 2021, with some controlled by foreigners.
According to a statement issued on Tuesday by Ockert Jansen, the executive marketing, corporate communications and client management services, a total 12 666 new companies were registered with Bipa between January and December last year.
“From the total number of registrations, 11 130 comprised of close corporations (CCs), 1 153 were companies, 318 registrations were for Section 21 companies, 49 were defensive names and 16 were foreign companies,” said Bipa registrar Vivienne Katjiuongua.
Katjiuongua said the authority recorded a total 13 594 registrations during 2021, adding that although Bipa observed a decline of 9% in registrations of CCs last year compared to 2021, the authority saw a 12% increase in the number of companies registered compared to the previous year.
Out of the 12 666 business entities registered by Bipa, the authority also recorded a total of 869 deregistrations last year, 613 of them CCs and 256 companies.
“A total of five companies were put under liquidation during the same period,” Katjiuongua said.
Explaining the reasons behind the drop, Katjiuongua said: “The number of registrations fluctuate year-on-year, depending on the socio-economic climate in Namibia and the appetite in the country.
“Therefore, Bipa is confident that should the investment climate and economic activities improve, especially in the domestic market, we may see an uptake in new business registrations for the ensuing year,” Katjiuongua added.
According to Bipa, last year, 2 698 foreign nationals were registered as either members, directors or shareholders in newly registered businesses, constituting 6% of the total business ownership in Namibia.
South Africa topped the list of foreign business ownership in Namibia last year, with 698 individuals registered as business owners followed by Zimbabwe (630), China (239) and Nigeria (104).
Other nationals registered as business owners last year were from Germany (101), Great Britain (67), India (61), Botswana (45) and the United States (69).
Jansen said during 2021, Zimbabwe topped the list of foreign ownership for that period with 970 individuals registered as business owners.
According to Bipa, from the 12 666 entities registered in 2022, a total of 43 938 individuals were registered as business owners of which 27 000 were male and 17 000 were female.
In addition to company registrations, Jansen said: “Client service excellence remains a key strategic focus for Bipa, considering that we received more than 30 000 walk-in clients between January and December 2022.”
Since introducing its call centre in July 2021, Bipa received 27 249 calls last year, maintaining a service level of 82%, with granting and protection of intellectual property rights remaining a critical mandate of the authority.
Jansen said last year Bipa received 778 trademark applications and also registered 1 478 trademarks, granting exclusive rights to owners for a period of 10 years.
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