Almost every country requires, at minimum, a business or trade register entry, a tax identification number, and some form of importer registration before you can clear goods through customs in your own name. Some countries add a separate, distinct 'importer' or 'trader' card on top of general business registration, specifically for foreign trade.
Find out early whether registration happens at a national level, a local or municipal level, or both, and whether any of it must be renewed annually. Missing a renewal is a common, avoidable reason an experienced importer suddenly cannot clear a shipment.