“We need not a short-term view or plan, but an ambitious anti-crisis plan for the medium and long terms supported by an active, ambitious macroeconomic policy and relaxed monetary policy,” executive director of the Independent Think Tank “Expert-Grup” Adrian Lupușor said in the public debate “Why doesn’t COVID-19 recede? Who should do and what should be done?” that was held by IPN News Agency.
The expert noted that besides a well-thought-out plan, the government should also urgently adopt a package of anti-crisis measures, but should not support the private sector at the cost of people’s health.
“We should not resuscitate the private sector by lifting restrictions when we haven’t yet taken the virus under control. We should not look at the lifting of restrictions as at a measure aimed at supporting the private sector. The government should simplify the regulations governing electronic trading. The fiscal treatment and regulatory treatment here are not clear. There are many aspects that need to be clarified so as to encourage electronic trading,” stated Adrian Lupușor.
From economic viewpoint, it is important for the authorities to discuss with representatives of the business community, in particular SMEs. “Emphasis should be laid on dialogue and consultancy with the SMEs. We see that discussions are mainly held with large companies, associations of large producers, but we should not forget that the SMEs represent 98% of the private sector and namely they are the most vulnerable ones in the current crisis. We must provide the entrepreneurs with advice, with informational support so as to help them restructure their businesses, starting from the basic things.”
Adrian Lupușor said the Government should not forget about the business environment after the pandemic too and should offer bank guarantees and subsidies so as to encourage the companies to overcome the crisis, to revitalize and restructure their businesses as swiftly as possible.
The debate “Why doesn’t COVID-19 recede? Who should do and what should be done?” was the 139th installment of the series of debates “Developing political culture through public debates” that are supported by the Hanns Seidel Foundation.
