Situation
Prior to May 2021, founders in the mountain kingdom of Bhutan had to trek across the Himalayas to one of six government offices and wait five days for business registration. For those living in remote valleys, this could involve walking two days in each direction.
Approach
A "single-window" system was implemented, allowing founders of small or cottage companies (firms valued under $14,000 that account for about 95% of industries in the country) to register a business by filling a form on their phone and receive business documents by email.
Impact
Thanks to the single-window system, entrepreneurs in Bhutan can now open a business in under one minute, at no cost, from wherever they are. The approach eliminated the need to travel to a government office, and drastically reduced the five-day wait time. As a result, Bhutan is now one of the fastest countries in the world to launch a business.