The small and medium-sized companies, which represent 97% of all the business entities of the country, will be able to better cooperate with the authorities, using a special platform. This is provided in the new Law on Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises that was approved by Parliament in the first reading on May 27, IPN reports.

Deputy Minister of Economy Valeriu Triboi said the bill was drafted by the Government. This envisions the adjustment of the national legal framework on SMEs to the European one. The strengthening of the communication platform by constituting the Consultative Council for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises is a new element.

Among the tasks of the Council will be to analyze the competitiveness of the SME sector, to develop the entrepreneurial skills and spirit and to formulate recommendations for improving the development environment for SMEs. The Council will annually present a report on the implementation of the development policies and the growth of the SME sector and proposals for improving the legislative and administrative framework with an impact on this to the Government.

According to Valeriu Triboi, the bill was consulted with European experts.

In the sitting of Parliament, a number of MPs proposed examining the opportunity of supporting a number of SMEs by exempting them from paying income tax for a period or by providing loans with low interest rates to them or by exempting businesses started in rural areas from paying particular taxes.