The Business and Intellectual Property Authority has expressed concern over a low turnout of business registrations. 

The authority says it has observed a 7.3 percent decline in the registrations of businesses.

BIPA recorded more than 12 000 registrations on its business register for the period January to December last year, compared to 2021 when the Authority recorded a total of 13 594 registrations.

BIPA's Corporate Communication, Ockert Jansen said this number shows a decline of 7.3% from the same period. From the total number of registrations, 11 130 comprised close corporations, 1 153 for companies, 318 registrations were for section 21 companies, 49 were defensive names and 16 were foreign companies. 

He noted that from the 12 000 business entities that were registered, BIPA also de-registered 869 companies last year.

Of this 613 were Close Corporations and 256 parties while five were recorded under liquidation during the same period.