The Parliament of the Republic of Moldova approved new criteria for determining the status of small and medium-sized enterprises, which will allow more companies to receive assistance.
In particular, the deputies approved in the first reading the amendments to the Law on Small and Medium Enterprises, which correct the values that serve as criteria for determining the status of micro, small and medium enterprises. As a result, the number of firms registered as SMEs will increase by at least 805 companies. They will be able to take advantage of additional opportunities for support from the state, as well as at the international level. The changes include, inter alia, a doubling of the turnover threshold for granting the status of a micro, small and medium-sized enterprise. Thus, companies with an annual turnover of up to 18 million lei or a total amount of assets owned by them up to 18 million lei will be considered micro-enterprises. According to the current legislation, this ceiling is now 9 million lei. The category of small enterprises will include enterprises with an annual turnover of up to 50 million lei or a total amount of assets owned by it up to 50 million lei instead of the current 25 million lei. Accordingly, for medium-sized enterprises, the annual turnover or total assets will increase from 50 million to 100 million lei. It is also proposed to exclude the lower limits of the number of employees for attribution to small and medium-sized enterprises. Valentina Maniс, secretary of the commission for economy, budget and finance, welcomed the initiative to ease the conditions for firms to be granted SME status, which will entail various benefits for companies. The changes being introduced will allow a greater number of enterprises to meet the definition of SMEs and use state support schemes for this category of business, including within the framework of regional and international programs. Also, a greater number of enterprises will be able to maintain the status of micro-enterprises and use simplified reporting rules, in accordance with the Tax and Labor Codes. It is planned that the law expected by economic agents will come into force immediately after its publication in Monitorul Oficial. The document must be approved by the parliament in the second reading. //20.10.2022 — InfoMarket.
