PM LAUNCHES ONE STOP PORTAL FOR BUSINESS LICENSES, APPROVALS & PERMITS

PUTRAJAYA, Sept 5 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad
Badawi Friday launched the Business Licensing Electronic Support System or BLESS,a one-stop online portal that allows simultaneous application of licenses,approvals and permits for starting a business in Malaysia.

BLESS, which would fast-track business approvals and further improve
Malaysia's stature as a businesss-friendly destination, would be implemented in four phases.

The first phase which begins immediately would be limited to the Klang
Valley catering to the manufacturing sector only.

The hotel and construction sectors are slated to follow by the end of the
year.

The second phase which begins in July next year would cover all the
sectors.

The third and final phase would see BLESS being rolled out nationwide from
the middle of 2010 through to 2012, he said at a meeting with the Special Task
Force to Facilitate Business (Pemudah) here.

Bless is one of the initiatives by Pemudah together with the
Implementation Coordination Unit (ICU) of the Prime Minister's Deparment to
develop an Internet based system for the application of business
licenses.

In moving online, Bless aims to increase the speed, transparency and
predictability of starting businesses in Malaysia.

-- BERNAMA