Single Portal business registration updated with 5 new functions

THE government, through an inter-ministerial working group, has launched five new functions on the Online Business Registration System, commonly referred to as Single Portal.

The five new registration and information editing functions were made available on January 15.

According to a January 15 press release, the new functions are based on measures announced by Prime Minister Hun Manet at the 19th Government-Private Sector Forum, held on November 13 last year.

“These five functions include modifying information, address details, registration office, modifying company statutes, modifying business activities, making annual declarations, and updating bank account information. The process will be completely online, so there is no longer a requirement to be present in person,” explained the release.

In June 2020, the government launched the initial phase of the Single Portal as part of the process of digitalising public services. The move aimed to create a favourable environment for doing business in Cambodia and increase the Kingdom’s competitiveness in the international arena.

Lim Heng, vice-president of the Cambodia Chamber of Commerce (CCC), said on January 15 that online registrations have made it easier to register businesses by reducing unnecessary expenses, saving time and avoiding the complexities of paperwork.

“The [CCC] has been a supporter of online registration since the beginning, when the Cambodia Data Exchange (CamDX) system was created to facilitate investments in Cambodia. The business registration system was established by the Ministry of Economy and Finance amid the Covid-19 crisis, so it was very convenient for businesses,” he explained.

Heng said it is an in-depth economic reform, which significantly reduces bureaucracy.

“For the next step, we expect the system to continue to develop more key functions, making it even more convenient to do business in Cambodia. This continued expansion is low risk, and will help to meet the demands of the private sector,” he added.

Pech Bolen, director-general of Westline Education Group and president of the Education Services Federation of Cambodia, said technology plays an important role in the business sector, in line with the government’s priorities: people, water, roads, electricity and technology.

“The platform makes it easy and time-saving to complete the application form yourself. It’s convenient, and stops businesspeople from getting frustrated with registration paperwork,” said Bolen.

The Single Portal was expanded in three phases. The first was for chain business registration, while the second and third added functions like applications for licences, permits, professional certificates and other documents related to doing business.

In 2024, the inter-ministerial working group will launch a further series of registration functions, along with the integration of key public services related to new businesses.