Beginning in 2014, Fijian businesses will be able to acquire their licenses for up to three years at a time.

Attorney General and Acting Minister for Local Government, Urban Development, Housing and the Environment, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum said the new initiative will cut back on red tape and improve productivity.

A government statement says it is also reviewing the fairness of the overall regime of licensing and fees paid by large and small businesses.

“There should be more equity in the system,” Sayed-Khaiyum said.

“We are beginning to look at the question of whether all business, regardless of size, should be paying the same fee. It may be more appropriate to have a sliding scale that provides a break for small and family operated businesses compared to corporations and bigger companies.”

The new initiative will also allow municipalities to devote more time and energy to seeing to the essential services that must be provided to all Fijians, the statement said.

FijiLive