The Business and Intellectual Property Authority (BIPA) registered over 13,000 new business entities in 2025. 

This has expanded the business register to more than two hundred and forty-two registered entities.

Speaking at a Stakeholder Breakfast Engagement, the Chief Executive Officer of BIPA, Ainna Kaundu highlighted that the increased amount of 6% represents youth entrepreneurs, which she attributed to the government funded National Youth Development Fund initiative.
 
The Beneficial Ownership compliance increased from 33% to 40%, a percentage that still needs to increase according to Kaundu. 

Trademark applications continued to dominate, accounting for 73%.

"Firstly, we must admit that we have done very well in the in within a space of two years that we have been able to move to a 45% I think The speed is quite good. We would want to know more The market should be concerned that we don't know the entities that we are dealing with. The 55%,we still don't know who they are, as well as it is a business risk."

Kaundu further called for compliance from business entities.

"If you cannot pay your annual duties, if you cannot file your beneficial ownership declarations, that is a sign of recklessness, it's a sign of negligence, it's a sign of irresponsibility. That means you are not able to discharge your duties of care for your own entities, and that then disqualify you to engage with another entity or to get a loan and so forth. So we want to continue to remind the market, the businesses out there, the banks, the investors, the government, the public enterprises, to ensure that you have a business good standing from people before you do business with an entity. This is part of due diligence."

 BIPA is also working towards streamlining and digitalising its services through the Intelligent Business Research Services platform.

This initiative allows services such as annual duty renewals to be conducted online, thereby improving efficiency and accessibility for clients.

"Annual duties is one of the services that will be online. Apart from that, there is a name in the gate integrated business registration system. We will also be able to integrate with other stakeholders, very important ones like NAMRA, Social Security, banks, so that we streamline the process when it comes to business registration. So, most of the services will be online, according to BIPA's ICT executive, Veneranda Shoombe.

 BIPA further announced extended operating hours, with services now available until 19h00 week days.