Business registration streamlined

The department says it is |trying to make it easier for en-trepreneurs to establish busi-|nesses nationwide by reducing |red tape, while at the same time promoting Thailand as an easy |place to do business. Documents issued by banks and modern traders will have 100-per-cent legal authority.

Pongpun Gearaviriyapun, director-general of the department, said that by expanding its service into modern-trade branches, it can save businesspeople time and travel costs.

"The e-certificates will be soon be available at modern traders such as Big C and Tesco, and counter service at 7-Elevens. The department’s launch of the e-certificates at banks as pilot project has been quite successful," she said.

Currently, enterprises can get registration certificates at more than 3,900 bank branches |nationwide, under a joint deal |made with the department in January 2012. The lenders in-volved are Bangkok Bank, Krungthai Bank, Kasikornbank, Siam Commercial Bank, Thanachart Bank and Government Savings Bank.

Last year, banks issued a total |of 80,438 e-certificates, up by 96 per cent from 41,016 documents |in 2012. In the first quarter of this year, banks issued 25,788 e-certificates.

Moreover, the department will allow new enterprises to register outside their own district. However, if enterprises want to change |details of their business, they have to go to the department’s office in the district where the company is located.

Pongpun also reminded companies to submit their balance sheets ending last December by June 2; if they fail to do so, they will face penalties under the law.