ABOUT 150,000 businesses would be expected to register online during the Registrar of Companies digital registration process.
The digital registration began on January 15 and is expected to continue for nine months.
While speaking to Legal Aid Commission support staff in Natadola over the weekend, Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum said the initiative under the Digital Fiji platform was to ensure accessibility of companies online.
“As you know, we now have a digital registration process of local businesses,” he said.
“Some people call it a re-registration but its actually a digital registration of businesses.
“These are all Fijian businesses and limited liability companies in the country.
“There are between 145,000 to 148,000 businesses.”
He explained that all types of companies must register.
“So for instance Siteri’s Canteen or Ram’s Kava Shop will have to undergo digital registration because once all of these businesses are registered we can do company searches online.
“Even Tappoo’s Ltd will have to digital register.”
He said the digital registration would be completed before the end of the year.
“This process commenced on January 15.
“For limited liability companies, they will have six months to do that and for business names will be nine months.
“There will be massive roadshows happening to raise awareness on that and companies can go to the Registrar of Companies offices and be able to register.”
According to Government, the initiative was designed to boost convenience for Fijians and improve the accuracy and accessibility of information and lower costs, through the registered entities information would be available online, online notifications would be sent if there were any pending payments, online searches and applications thereby removing the need for physical presence and lining up to access services and the ability to make online payments.
The key objective of the digital registration process was to update the information held with the ROC and to ensure that it was current and correct.
Therefore, amnesty would be provided for previous failures to notify the ROC of relevant changes to business or company information.
