Ministry of Commerce Offers 424 E-Services to Businesses and Consumers

Tariq Araibi: The Kuwaiti Ministry of Commerce and Industry provides a wide range of services to the business sector and consumers, with its total digital and electronic services exceeding 424. According to the Ministry’s annual report, while some services are offered free of charge, others incur fees that start at as little as one Kuwaiti dinar and can rise depending on the service type, reaching up to 2,100 dinars in some cases. For example, the “Request to Correct a Typographical Error” service incurs a fee of one dinar, whereas the “Request for Granting a Compulsory License” service carries a fee of 1,050 dinars when submitted by an individual and 2,100 dinars when submitted by a company. The Ministry’s services are distributed across multiple electronic portals, as outlined in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry’s services and procedures guide, as follows: The Single Window Services Portal (Kuwait Business Center): covers 180 electronic services related to company establishment and licensing. The Electronic Submission Portal for Visitors’ Requests: includes 148 services. The Commercial Licensing Services Portal: includes 37 services. The Supply Management Services Portal: includes 17 services. The Automated System Portal for Joint Stock Company Licenses: includes 14 services. The Trademark Management Services Portal: includes 13 services. The Precious Metals Management Services Portal: includes nine services. The Consumer Protection and Commercial Control Sector Services Portal: includes six services. A significant portion of these transactions (such as issuing and renewing licenses, commercial registry registration, company establishment, and trademark auditing) are subject to specific financial fees structured in accordance with ministerial decisions regulating fees.