SMART Zambia, BRRA Join Forces to Digitise Business Licensing

The SMART Zambia Institute and the Business Regulatory Review Agency (BRRA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to digitise and streamline the country's business licensing and regulatory framework.

The agreement, signed in Lusaka, commits both institutions to eliminating redundant processes and modernising how government delivers services to the business community. The partnership directly addresses long-standing frustrations experienced by enterprises, including fragmented systems, repetitive documentation demands, and lengthy processing times spread across multiple agencies.

SMART Zambia National Coordinator Percy Chinyama described the collaboration as a strategic commitment to simplify and digitise licensing and regulatory services for businesses across the country.

Under the terms of the agreement, SMART Zambia will offer technical support to regulatory bodies to ensure their systems comply with national digital standards and function on interoperable platforms. The arrangement also provides for secure data sharing between public agencies, cutting duplication and improving efficiency.

BRRA Executive Director Sharon Sichilongo emphasised that regulatory reform and digital transformation must go hand in hand. She noted that the private sector will also be engaged to ensure reforms reflect genuine business needs, while joint training programmes will equip government officers with modern digital skills.

Technical teams from both institutions are set to begin coordinated implementation immediately, including system integration planning and process mapping.