News about Small and medium-sized businesses

The number of bankruptcies in Romania is rising rapidly. In the first five months of 2026, 3,146 companies and self-employed individuals (PFAs) filed for insolvency. This is 13.6% more than a year earlier, according to data from the National Trade Registry Office (ONRC).

Thanks to the launch of the “Entrepreneur’s Office” digital platform in test mode (Cabinetul Antreprenorului), Moldovan businesspeople will be able to more easily access the financing programs and support services offered by the Organization for Entrepreneurship Development (ODA).

Moldova will revise the rules governing liability for manufacturing defects. The group of individuals deemed liable for damages will be expanded, in part due to the digitalization of the economy.

TechAngels Romania, Business Angels Europe, META Group, and the Moldovan Technology Transfer Network (MTTN) have jointly launched ESIL Moldova—a two-year program designed to build capacity for attracting investment from business angels in Moldova.

The current system for reimbursing companies’ expenses in the dual education system will be replaced by a state aid scheme. The change is expected to address the gaps that are hindering the system’s development in Moldova.

Russian sellers operating on the Wildberries marketplace are reporting significant losses following Ukrainian drone strikes on the company’s logistics centers on the night of July 20. The changes to the terms of service, which took effect shortly before the attacks, have caused the greatest discontent among sellers. Under the new terms, the marketplace is exempt from liability for goods destroyed or damaged as a result of hostilities, including drone attacks.

The government’s package of proposals to reduce overregulation of the private sector and streamline the permitting system has received widespread attention in the business community.

Last week, competition and state aid were the focus of discussions between antitrust authorities and the business community. Representatives of the antitrust authorities from Romania, Poland, and Lithuania shared their experience with Moldovan businesses regarding investigations into violations of competition law and the application of state aid legislation.

Special lenient provisions for small and microenterprises (SMEs) will be introduced into the Code of Administrative Offenses, and triple penalties will be abolished.

The business community is ready to be not merely an observer of reforms, but a responsible participant and partner of the government. It expects predictability, clear rules of the game, and the opportunity to participate in the development of solutions even before they are adopted.

With financial support from Sweden and Norway, UNDP, in partnership with the Organization for Entrepreneurship Development (ODA), Moldovan business incubators will receive targeted investments totaling $386,000 to improve energy efficiency.

Payments between businesses and government agencies will be made within the timeframes established by law. Government agencies will not be able to justify payment delays by citing a lack of funds, red tape, or similar reasons.

The Economic Academy of Moldova (ASEM) and FPC Bioprotect SRL have signed a five-year agreement on cooperation in workforce training. Strengthening ties between the academic and business communities will create opportunities for professional training for students and the implementation of dual education programs.

Companies that incur expenses for training employees through the dual education system will be able to receive reimbursement for those expenses even if they owe money to the state budget.

In June 2026, the State Tax Service (STS) reviewed 769 cases following inspections conducted to investigate illegal business activities.

The European labor market remains divided along lines of citizenship. While EU citizens are more likely to secure permanent jobs, migrants from non-EU countries are more often forced to accept temporary contracts and part-time work. Eurostat reached this conclusion after analyzing the situation over the past decade.

On July 14, the eighth phase of a free training program for aspiring entrepreneurs from several districts in central Moldova—Ungheni, Nisporeni, Călărași, and Fălești—began in Ungheni. Over the course of three days, participants will gain practical knowledge on running a business, as well as on the application of tax and customs laws.

In June 2026, independent contractors (freelancers) earned more than 41 million lei.

The Ministry of Economic Development and Digitalization is proposing these changes as part of a package of amendments to the Labor Code. They are aimed at reducing excessive regulation of the business environment.  

It is proposed that a separate section be added to the Labor Code to regulate the rules for entering into and terminating so-called “zero-hour” employment contracts.