The Ministry of Economy suggests a new formula for regulating patent-based entrepreneurial activity so as to ensure fair competition and to create equitable taxation condition. Minister of Economy Octavian Calmac told this to representatives of the protests who were mobilized by the Small Biasness Association near the Government Building, IPN reports.

“It was proposed that the small and medium-sized enterprises should be exempted from inspections for a period of five years, should pay a common tax of 2-3% of the turnover, should benefit from a simple fiscal reporting system and that any inspection at these companies should be consultative in character,” stated the minister.

As to the protesters’ demand to keep the entrepreneur’s patent after 2017, when this is to be annulled, Octavian Calmac said they will submit the appraisal of the legislative initiative presented by a group of MPs to the Government within ten days, but a final decision will be taken by Parliament, after considering all the positions.

Contacted by IPN, the chairman of the Small Business Association Eugen Roscovanu said the proposals of the Ministry of Economy are not acceptable to small traders and these will insist on being allowed to work based on patent. The small entrepreneurs will protest again in front of the Government Building next week so as to demand that the initiative that abrogates the ban on using the entrepreneur’s patent from 2017 is endorsed.

In Moldova, more than 18,000 entrepreneurs work based on patent, 12,000 of whom in trade. According to fiscal reports, about 39 million lei was collected into the state budget in 2015 as taxes for issuing or extending patents.