In an effort to improve service delivery and ensure the effective administration of Business and Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) registration, the Business and Intellectual Property Authority (BIPA) has been established as an agency of the Ministry of Industrialization and Trade (MIT) .
BIPA became officially operational as a State-Owned Enterprise (SOE) with the promulgation of the BIPA Act (Act No. 8 of 2016) on 16 January 2017. BIPA, as an Association Not for Gain (Section 21) was deregistered on 25 August 2017.
The functions of BIPA are, to be the central focal point for the registration, administration and protection of businesses, commercial and industrial properties rights (IPRs) as well to be the legal depository of information, documents and data required to be lodged under the applicable legislations. BIPA is further tasked with the provision of general advisory services and information dissemination on business registration and IPRs.
The ease with which an entrepreneur can set up and operate a business, and the protection of industrial property rights, are important business decisions. To this end, BIPA fulfills a critical function within the Namibian society by solidifying government efforts towards business development in Namibia.
Thus, BIPA’s Key Strategic Objectives are to formulate appropriate policy and legislative instruments, as well as setting up institutional arrangements geared towards providing a conducive business and investment climate and supportive services. The creation of a vibrant and competitive domestic market environment is a crucial part of our operational strategy by which we seek to meet our objectives.
