Registry Advisers

                  - supporting business registries worldwide

 

Home

About Us

Our Experience

Registered Users

Contact Us

 

Some examples of our work

Kosovo

During 2002 we dealt with practical issues relating to the establishment of a Business Registry in Kosovo.  The Registry was initially the responsibility of the United Nations Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) and the European Union, but was subsequently transferred to the Government of Kosovo.  Norway Registers Development AS provided the computer system.  Registry Advisers Limited analysed requirements, defined desk procedures, drafted forms, instructions and a procedures manual, commented on legislation, drafted regulations, advised systems developers on the requirement, provided staff training and gave presentations to the business community throughout Kosovo.  In 2005 the World Bank commended the Kosovo Business Registry as an example of a �best practice� one-stop shop for business registration.

St Helena

In 2003-04 we were faced with the challenge of establishing a Companies Registry in a remote island where it had not previously been possible to incorporate a company.  We provided advice on all aspects of the implementation, including participation in consultation on the legislation which had been drafted by the Attorney.  We designed, developed and implemented a computer system providing all facilities necessary to commence operations.  We also provided staff training, gave presentations to the business community, and drafted regulations, forms, instructions and guidance notes.  As series of system enhancements has been implemented by remote access from UK and we have continued to provide support on operational issues.  The project was managed by David Walke.  Paul Jones was the Systems Development Manager.  Funding was provided by the British Foreign & Commonwealth Office.

Ukraine

During 2004-05 we advised the State Committee of Ukraine for Regulatory Policy and Entrepreneurship on development of the law, procedures and computer systems necessary for the registration of legal persons and individual entrepreneurs.  The project, which was financed by the European Union, took account of the wish of Ukraine to adopt laws and practices consistent with European law and international best practice.  This included facilitating Ukrainian participation in the European Business Register.  Registry Advisers Limited was a main sub-contractor to HTSPE Limited.

Kenya

A project supported by the FIRST Initiative to reform of the legal and institutional framework for asset financing involved both improving arrangements for registering secured property and addressing problems with the Companies Registry.  An earlier failed computer project meant that most functions were still being dealt with manually and that the computer database was incomplete. 

We proposed major changes to company registration procedures, simplifying name reservation procedures and establishing arrangements for sharing information between government bodies in such a way that there was no longer a need for separate tax registration.  Detailed examination of the existing registry software revealed that, while there were various defects, these could be rectified.  This was a far more cost-effective option than replacing the system in its entirety, which would have delayed the benefits to the business community.  The agreed proposals for registration of secured property involved new legislation, procedures and systems.

Registry Advisers Limited was the main sub-contractor to Maxwell Stamp PLC.  The project was led by David Walke.  Paul Jones was the International IT Expert.

Vietnam

During 2006-07 we advised several Vietnamese provinces - Hai Phong, Da Nang, Hue and Can Tho � on the development of one-stop shops for business registration.  One-stop shops had been a feature of Vietnamese administration for some time, but these had been limited in scope to the services of a particular Department.  We demonstrated how it was possible for a �single window� to provide a service spanning the responsibilities of three Departments � the Department of Planning and Investment, the Tax Department and the Department of Public Security, which was responsible for the approval and registration of seals.  Our work, undertaken in association with DAI Europe Ltd, included participation in a national conference in Hanoi and contribution of an article for the Vietnam Economic Management Review. The result has been a very significant reduction in the number of visits an applicant for registration has to make to official bodies and in the overall time to complete the registration process.

Indonesia

As part of the Regional Economic Development (RED) project in Central Java, which assists local government to improve the quality of the regulatory and administrative framework conditions for the private sector, we conducted a baseline study on the quality of existing public services in Solo Raya.  This concentrated on the provision of business licences and included a review of one-stop shops in Boyolali, Karanganyar, Klaten, Sukoharjo, Surakarta, Sragen and Wonogiri.  We provided advice on how these might effectively be developed, both on an individual and a collective basis.

Rwanda

David Walke was a member of a team of advisers assembled by the Investment Climate Facility for Africa to establish the Rwanda Investment Climate Project, with particular responsibility for advising on the establishment of the Rwanda Commercial Registration Services Agency.  The Agency is now responsible for the registration of businesses, a function previously exercised by the courts.  Registration involves only two steps and can be completed in 3 days.  Rwanda was cited in Doing Business 2010 as the world�s top reformer.

North Africa and the Middle East

Our work for IFC in 2007-08 covered Algeria, Morocco, Egypt, Lebanon and Yemen.  This involved various written briefing, telephone conference, on-site visits and participation in workshops and conferences.

The General Authority for Free Zones and Investment (GAFI) in Egypt had made excellent progress in improving the level of service provided to both international and domestic investors seeking to establish a business in Egypt.  In both 2007 and 2008, Egypt was recognised as a 'top reformer' in the World Bank/IFC Doing Business reports.  Simplifying the procedures and reducing the costs associated with business start-up has resulted in more incorporations and enhanced levels of investment.  We were able to make recommendations for further improvements.  The number of procedures, the time involved and the cost have all been reduced further and the minimum capital requirement has been abolished, resulting in Egypt now ranking 24th out of 183 countries in terms of ease of starting a business, having risen 19 places in the past year.  Egypt has since been used as a case study in the review of one-stop shops for business registration (see below).

Our work in Yemen was similarly rewarding.  Yemen reduced the number of activities involved in business start-up from 12 to 6 and the time taken from 63 days to 12. There was a reduction of more than 50 per cent in the cost and the minimum capital requirement, which had been one of the highest in the world, was abolished. 

Caribbean

We have provided advice on the improvement of business start-up procedures in St Kitts, Dominica, St Lucia and Grenada as part of a project sponsored by IFC on Improving Business Climate in the English Speaking Caribbean. 

Lesotho

As part of the Private Sector Competitiveness and Economic Diversification Programme, we advised on the development of a One-Stop Business Facilitation Centre in Lesotho.  This involved both a new companies registration system and the effective integration of procedures for corporate registration, tax registration, licensing, customs formalities and issue of work permits.

Doing Business 2013 reported that, in implementing the first stage of the reforms, Lesotho had risen from 144th position out of 185 countries to 79th.  We look forward to seeing the impact of the remaining reforms.

Bhutan

During 2012 we advised the Royal Government of Bhutan on simplifying company law and procedures.  In this, we were working with the Barrington Consulting Group of Canada and UD & Partners of Bhutan.  By the end of the project we had prepared a new Companies Bill.  We also worked with Pohl Consulting & Associates of Germany to draft an Enterprise Registration Bill, replacing existing licensing procedures with a simple registration system for sole proprietorships and partnerships.

Other one-stop shops

In 2009 David Walke was commissioned to review developments in the use of one-stop shops for business registration.  This included case studies from Burkina Faso, Colombia, Mauritius, Egypt and Azerbaijan as well as a global analysis.  Following preparation of the report, David was invited to to apply the 'best practice' principles in Armenia and his recommendations are included in the final version.  How Many Stops in a One-Stop Shop? is published by the World Bank Group.

A short article, Fewer Stops on the Start-up Road, was published in the Summer 2010 issue of Management Services.

Outsourcing

Another study by David Walke has considered the extent to which business registries outsource functions to the private sector or to other parts of government, the reasons for outsourcing and the associated benefits, drawbacks, and practical problems.  Outsourcing of Business Registration Activities - Lessons from Experience has also been published by the World Bank Group.

 

 

 

 

Last updated: 14 December 2019

Registry Advisers Limited was registered in England & Wales as company number 4164442 between 2002 and 2017
Registry Advisers is now a trading name of David Walke, Wick CF71 7QD, United Kingdom

VAT registration GB 276 6803 67