More opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises

Chisinau, October 22, 2026 – Parliament passed in first reading a bill harmonizing the regulatory framework for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with the EU acquis, which will allow them greater access to support programs and instruments.

The bill, drafted by the Ministry of Economic Development and Digitalization, aims to harmonize the criteria for classifying SMEs and establish advanced mechanisms to support export competitiveness and access to financing.

The document provides for amendments to the criteria for classifying SMEs by increasing the turnover threshold from EUR 25 million to EUR 50 million and the ceiling for owned assets from EUR 21.5 million to EUR 43 million. Applying the new financial thresholds and the methodology harmonized with European standards would allow an additional 147 enterprises to be included in the SME category. Thus, more businesses will be able to benefit from the available support programs and instruments.

At the same time, the bill proposes the legal regulation of the category of small mid-cap enterprises. Currently, the classification framework provides only for the categories of micro-enterprises, small enterprises, and medium-sized enterprises. Enterprises that exceed the applicable thresholds are directly classified as large enterprises, with no intermediate category. This situation may limit incentives for business expansion and new investments, affecting enterprises’ growth potential and the strengthening of their competitiveness.

Another provision concerns the establishment of a specific support mechanism for financing export activities. This will include instruments such as guarantees or insurance for export credits, direct financing or refinancing of such credits, as well as interest-rate support measures.

These measures are intended to diversify sources of financing, reduce exclusive reliance on bank lending, and strengthen alternative mechanisms for supporting enterprises.

The bill aimed at harmonizing the regulatory framework for SMEs will be submitted to Parliament for consideration in its second reading.

It should be noted that the small and medium-sized enterprise sector represents the main segment of the economy of the Republic of Moldova. SMEs account for 99.7% of the total number of enterprises and generate more than 72% of the national turnover.

 

Communication and Public Relations Department of the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova