01 Jun 2016

Companies and Intellectual Property Authority (CIPA) chief executive officer Mr Paul Masena says the relocation of his offices from their initial lodging to the current location would ensure improved service delivery to their customers.

Speaking during the official opening of the offices, Mr Masena said that upon becoming a parastatal they left congested areas to a place where they could be easily accessible hence better serve their customers.

The chief registrar also reminded the customers who only knew them for registration of businesses that his authority also protected intellectual property, traditional knowledge inter alia. He urged both the adults and youth to seek assistance from their office for protection of their intellectual properties.

The authority which was nearly relocated to Palapye had been relocated to the offices north of central business district, just a few metres from Local Enterprise Authority (LEA). LEA shares the building with Ministry of Education and Skills Development and Serowe regional offices. On the east are Departments of Information Services and  Broadcasting Services and most importantly government printing and publishing where companies source out government gazette.

CIPA shares office accommodation in the building that houses Letshego Financial Services and Bank Gaborone. The double storey office boasts the reception and sitting area, revenue and self-service areas amongst others at the ground floor whilst the manager's office, conference room and the kitchen are at first floor. The offices were partitioned in January by a youth company which was hailed for an excellent job.

The relocation, according to LEA Serowe branch manager, Ms Kgomotso Masunga would necessitate easy referrals from their offices to CIPA and vice versa. She applauded CIPA for reneging on their plans to relocate to Palapye saying there were businesses mushrooming in Serowe and peripheries that needed their services.  Ends