Questions we are asked most often

Yes. We assist clients with business establishment and the related regulatory requirements, including company registration under the Companies Act 2011 and trading or manufacturing licences through the One Stop Business Facilitation Centre. See business registration and licensing.

Yes. We assess petroleum projects and coordinate the applicable professional, technical and regulatory requirements. Note that petroleum in Lesotho is not regulated by LEWA: licensing runs through the Department of Energy in the Ministry of Energy and Meteorology, together with the Ministry of Trade. See petroleum.

Yes, with mining and quarry project assessment, regulatory planning, documentation and specialist coordination under the Mines and Minerals Act 2005. See mining.

We coordinate appropriate engineering and technical specialists according to the requirements of each project. Insika is a consulting and project development firm, and professional engineering sign-off comes from the registered professionals we appoint.

Yes. We assist with business plans, feasibility studies, financial models, investment proposals and funding readiness, and we match projects to the institution that fits. See funding and investment.

Yes. Complete the consultation form and our team will confirm a time. Tell us about the project rather than the paperwork and the first conversation will be far more useful.

No. Government authorities make regulatory decisions independently. Insika assists clients with professional preparation, coordination and project management, which is what materially changes the odds.

Yes. We can assess and support projects throughout Lesotho, subject to project requirements and the availability of appropriate specialists. Highlands projects carry access and logistics costs that should be assessed early.

Insika professional fees are quoted per project once the scope is clear, and are normally structured by stage so you are not committing to a full programme before an assessment has told you whether there is one. Government fees are separate and we confirm the current schedule with the relevant authority.

Usually the environmental one. Section 25(4) of the Environment Act 2008 prevents any licensing authority from issuing a licence for a project that may require an environmental assessment unless the application carries an environmental licence, or the Director has certified in writing that one is not required. It sits ahead of most other approvals. See environmental compliance.

No, and conflating them is the most common early mistake. Incorporation makes the company exist. A trading or manufacturing licence is what permits it to operate, and it requires clearances issued by other offices.

Yes, and we work with companies expanding from South Africa and elsewhere. One restriction to know early: the OBFC states that the small scale industry manufacturing licence is reserved for Lesotho citizens only, which affects how a foreign manufacturing venture should be structured.

Revenue Services Lesotho administers tax and customs, and a single taxpayer identification number covers income tax, VAT and customs together. Tax clearance is required for a trading licence application, so register early.

It can be, but structure matters more than price. Preference margins of up to 15 percent apply for Basotho ownership, with further margins for local subcontracting, local performance and Lesotho-origin goods. See government tenders.

Every regulatory page cites the authority or legislation it was checked against, with the date. Requirements, fees and procedures change, and the Minister can amend the schedules that determine what applies to you. We confirm current requirements with the relevant authority for each project rather than relying on published summaries, including our own.