Chapter five: Corporate governance • 150 Phase 4 integrates those functions related to setting up business electricity, water and telecommunication accounts and adds these to those created in phases 1, 2 and 3. Key achievements 537. According to the MTICM, immediate improvements in service delivery were realised in mid2006 when the Lesotho Revenue Authority (LRA) officials, who were administrating export visas, moved into the MTICM building to work alongside trade officials in an OSS facility. Significantly improving service delivery for businesses required a redesign of procedures and forms as well as the computerisation of systems. To this end, the OSS has undergone a significant process of reform. Fundamentally, this has involved combining the two distinct processes of trade and LRA into a single OSS process. Specifically, the following have been achieved: • Export processes have been redesigned to eliminate unnecessary steps. • Import processes have been changed from blanket permits on all goods to permits for restricted goods only. • Licensing administration has been changed to simplify the fee structure (without an application fee), application forms and information management. • Local licensing board sittings have been streamlined so they can be held at least once a week. • Automation of trading and manufacturing licences has reduced licence processing times to 20 minutes for licences and 15 minutes for renewals. • Two immigration and two labour officers have been redeployed to the OSS since 2008. • Manufacturers’ work permits are currently issued at the OSS, where it now takes one week compared with three months previously, thereby reducing the waiting time by 11 weeks. • Issuing of import permits has been automated. This has eliminated unnecessary bureaucratic steps and reduced processing time. Obtaining an import permit now takes only one day. 538. The first three phases have been completed, except for the issuing of residence permits. Preparations are under way to ensure that the facility will be operational in the near future. Preparations for the utilities have not yet begun. 539. The next targets include: • Automating work permits by 2009. • Rolling out the OSS licensing system to the next three pilot districts of Lesotho [Leribe, Berea (at Teyateyaneng) and Mafeteng] by the end of 2009 after the feasibility study has been completed in November 2008. • Recruiting the OSS director before June 2009. • Integrating company registration services before June 2009. • Completing the OSS strategic plan by the end of 2009.