1. Olesea BORDAN SMEs Policy Development and Internal Trade Division Government of the Republic of Moldova Ministry of Economy Budapest 2015 State Policy for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises sector Development

2. The SMEs Share in the National Economy of the Republic of Moldova in 2013

3. The problems faced by SMEs: Low competitiveness of SMEs in production sector and service providers sphere; Insufficient promotion of financial instruments, such as venture capital and credit guarantee fund for SMEs; Low level of business culture and consequently an insufficient absorption of specialized / qualified workforce; Lack of mechanisms and systems of SMEs technological capacity building in the main development areas; Late payment of subsidies to farmers and VAT refund under the terms of legislation, etc. Small and Medium Enterprise Sector Development Strategy for 2012-2020

4. Government of the Republic of Moldova Ministry of Economy Government of the Republic of Moldova Ministry of Economy SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED ENTERPRISE SECTOR DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY FOR 2012 – 2020 ACTION PLAN ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE STRATEGY FOR 2015-2017 Government Decision no. 685 from 13th of September 2012 (M.O. no.198-204/740 from 21.09.2012) ACTION PLAN ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE STRATEGY FOR 2012-2014

5. Small and Medium Enterprise Sector Development Strategy for 2012-2020 Small and Medium Enterprise Sector Development Strategy for 2012-2020 Strategic Objective Creation of a favorable business environment, promotion of business culture in the course of SMEs support and assurance of social unity.

6. Strategic Vision of SME sector:  Average growth of the number of SMEs per 1000 persons up to 25 SMEs by 2020;  Growth of the number of workers employed in SMEs up to 65% by 2020;  Growth of the SMEs share in GDP up to 38% by 2020;  Ensuring effective competition by strengthening competitiveness and facilitating growth and sustainable innovation of SMEs. Small and Medium Enterprise Sector Development Small and Medium Enterprise Sector Development Strategy for 2012-2020

7. Priority Directions of the Strategy:  Adjustment of the normative and regulatory framework to match SMEs needs;  Improvement of access to financing for SMEs;  Development of human capital through promotion of competences and entrepreneurial culture;  Increase SMEs competitiveness and stimulation of innovation spirit;  Facilitation of SMEs development in regions;  Business partnership development. Small and Medium Enterprise Sector Development Strategy for 2012-2020

8. National Programme for Economic Empowerment of Youth (PNAET): During 2008-2014 :  Were organized 134 training courses, trained – 3631 young people, including - 1573 women.  Were disbursed 1639 sub-loans, that permitted: - Financing of 1282 start-ups, including 480 managed by women (37 %) - Creation of 2395 workplaces. Small and Medium Enterprise Sector Development Strategy for 2012-2020 8

9. “Program on Attracting Remittances into the Economy “PARE 1+1”: “Program on Attracting Remittances into the Economy “PARE 1+1”: During the period of 2010-2014:  1094 migrants were trained or their first degree relatives, including 295 women (27%)  504 grant contracts were signed with beneficiary enterprises, 147 are founded or managed by women (29%)  From 247 start-ups, 66 enterpsises are founded/ managed by women (27%) Small and Medium Enterprise Sector Development Strategy for 2012-2020 9

10. Credit Guarantee Fund for SME: 2014:  56 financial guarantees for SMEs were offered, of which: ⁻26 start-ups (46,4%), ⁻25 businesses (44,6%) managed by women. “Efficient Business Management” Programme : 2014:  98 training courses were organized, 2710 persons trained, including 1800 women. Small and Medium Enterprise Sector Development Strategy for 2012-2020 10

11. Business Incubators: Business Incubators: During the period of 2009-2014:  8 business incubators were created (BI) and 1 will be launched in April 2015;  BI incubates 120 enterprises, approximately 45 are founded / managed by women;  BI generates the creation of 558 workplaces, of which 254 are for women. Small and Medium Enterprise Sector Development Strategy for 2012-2020 11

12. - Active business incubators - Business incubators under construction Business Incubators

13. The Action Plan on Strategy Implementation for 2012-2014

14. Priority Directions of the Strategy: 1.Adjustment of the normative and regulatory framework to match SMEs needs; 2.Improvement of access to financing for SMEs; 3.Development of human capital through promotion of competences and entrepreneurial culture; 4.Increase SMEs competitiveness and stimulation of innovation spirit; 5.Facilitation of SMEs development in regions; 6.Business partnership development; 7.Women's Entrepreneurship Development. Small and Medium Enterprise Sector Development Strategy for 2012-2020

15. 15 Priority 7: Women's Entrepreneurship Development Priority 7: Women's Entrepreneurship Development  Facilitating the access of women entrepreneurs to training and information resources;  Promoting entrepreneurship among women;  Facilitating the access of women entrepreneurs to financial resources;  Creation of credit guarantee financial products for companies managed by women;

16. Priority 7: Women's Entrepreneurship Development  Implementation of programs for women entrepreneurship support (training, consultancy, legal advice, mentoring and coaching, including funding);  Information and guidance to women entrepreneurs applying to the European funding programs COSME and Horizon 2020;  Develop and promote a program of financial support for rural businesses founded by women. 16

17. The Main Actions Planned for Implementation:  Adjusting the draft law on SMEs to the 10 principles of "Small Business Act";  Create Advisory Council for SMEs that will consist of public and private sector representatives;  Including the entrepreneurial training course at all levels of education (starting with secondary) and training the teaching staff the entrepreneurial education;  Creation of new business incubators and expansion of business incubators network at national level;  Implementation of programs for SMEs support ;  Promoting "green" practices within SMEs. The Action Plan on Strategy Implementation for 2015-2017

18. Thank You for Attention! SMEs Policy Development and Internal Trade Division Budapest 2015 Government of the Republic of Moldova Ministry of Economy