The economic entities that work based on the entrepreneur’s patent are harassed by representatives of state institutions, said the chairman of the Small Business Association Eugen Roscovanu. He told a news conference that the patent holders are forced to register as private entrepreneurs, but this would make the business about 10 times dearer, Info-Prim Neo reports. Olga Ciapchi, a representative of small businesses from Stefan Voda district, said that the tax inspectors’ attitude is humiliating, including towards the women who make effort to maintain the family as their husbands do not have a job. Another participant in the conference, Elena Turcanu from Causeni said that the local and central authorities were informed about the barriers placed to the patentees for numerous times, but nothing was done. Instead, the fines imposed on patent holders are almost equal to those put on large stores. “We are put in the situation to buy wholesale goods at much higher prices than those indicated in the fiscal invoices, as we do not have another way out. We must survive somehow. The Tax Inspectorate does not see that a pair of shoes costs 7 lei, while a pair of trousers – 20 lei in the invoices of the wholesale traders. Have you ever seen such goods to be sold at such prices? We pay, while others enrich themselves and the state wins nothing from these transactions,” said Alexandru Vishnevski, a patentee from Rezina. Grigore Marciuc, chairman of the Small Business Association from the northern districts, suggested demonopolizing business and ensuring real economic freedom for the SMEs and patent holders. Owing to the pressure, their number decreased from 45,000 in 2006 to 12,000 at present. The patentees propose allowing using €500 as trading means, extending the kinds of activity performed on the basis of patent, simplifying the bureaucratic fiscal procedures applied to small businesses, creating stimulating economic conditions for developing small and medium-sized companies, which will provide new jobs.