News about Small and medium-sized businesses

The Forța Fermierilor Association announced the organization’s meeting with the Parliamentary Commission for Agriculture, scheduled for tomorrow, 14:00. The first item on the working agenda is “preventing the increase of the VAT rate on agricultural products to 20%”

For enterprises in the small and medium-sized enterprises (SIMM) sector, the amount of income that entitles them to choose a preferential tax regime was increased from MDL 1.2 million to MDL 1.7 million. This refers to enterprises paying income tax at the rate of 4% of total income.

H&M continues its retail transformation amid changes in the fashion industry and consumer behavior. In the first quarter of fiscal 2026, the company recorded a decline in revenue while announcing plans to further reduce its offline presence.

Chisinau hosted the GPeC Meetup Chisinau, one of the most relevant events dedicated to e-commerce and digital transformation in the region, supported by iute Moldova as official partner. The event brought together entrepreneurs, online sales experts, business representatives and technology specialists, in a context marked by accelerated digitalization and the adoption of artificial intelligence.

The Organization for the Development of Entrepreneurship (ODA), with the support of the Moldovan government and development partners, announced the start of applications for grants related to non-refundable financial support programs and instruments managed by the organization in cooperation with the Ministry of Economic Development and Digitalization.

Moldretail is the leader in sales in Moldovan chain retail. In 2025, its Linella chain reached a record turnover of 14.5 billion lei for Moldova, and the number of stores grew to 210, Logos Press reported.

The share of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Moldova’s economy increased significantly after the National Bureau of Statistics recalculated registered companies according to a new methodology.

The Chisinau GPeC Meetup brought together local entrepreneurs, e-commerce experts, business representatives and technology specialists in a day dedicated to growth strategies and online commerce development. The event, organized by FAN Courier with the support of iute Moldova, focused on specific solutions, current trends and expansion opportunities for businesses in the region.

The first day of Global Money Week 2026 started with a bang. On March 16, iute Moldova and Energbank, part of the international consortium Iute Group, joined forces to hold financial education events within the #YouthEconomy project. The event gathered more than 70 students from the National Trade College ASEM, who met with Sergiu Sobuleac, CEO of iute Moldova, and Lilia Boico, Chairman of the Board of Energbank.

Moldovan consumer’s actions in 2026 are changing under the influence of prices, digitalization and online communities. Such data were cited by Angela Cizhevski, CEO of Xplane Market Research, Logos Press reports.

Officers of the Main Department for Combating Fraud of the State Security Service (SIS), led by prosecutors from the Prosecutor’s Office for Combating Organized Crime and Special Cases (PCCOCS), uncovered a money laundering scheme. It is estimated that the damage to the budget amounted to more than 173 million lei.

The second phase of an ongoing project aimed at increasing employment opportunities and strengthening labor market institutions in Moldova was launched.

To transfer at least 10,000 people from the shadow economy to the legal economy within four years and to provide more than 100,000 people with stable jobs – these are the targets set by the government under the national employment program.

Only 15 out of 240 state-owned companies have external audits, and 55 out of 108 state-owned enterprises are headed by temporary administrators. These are statements from audit reports prepared by experts of the Audit Chamber. They were voiced during a meeting of the parliamentary commission for the control of public finances.

Spanish retailer Zara has announced a new two-year creative partnership with British designer John Galliano – news that has already caused a wide resonance in the fashion industry. While details of the partnership remain limited, the very fact of such an alliance signals a strategically important step for both parties.

“Shrecking” – a new career trend in which professionals deliberately choose easier and more stable positions over ambitious growth – is gaining momentum amid economic instability.

Chisinau, March 16, 2026. The #YouthEconomy financial education program, supported by iute Moldova, celebrates its one-year anniversary during Global Money Week, taking place from March 16 to 20. Thanks to the enthusiasm and growing interest of young people, the project continues this year, offering students meetings with renowned business people and interactive workshops on entrepreneurship and sound financial management.

Independent analytical center Expert-Grup with the support of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the Republic of Moldova and the Netherlands Agency for Enterprise Development (RVO), as well as in cooperation with the Academy of Economic Knowledge of Moldova (ASEM) and companies Backstage and ISD launched a program to support young entrepreneurs in the Republic of Moldova – business incubator Tulip 2026.

Companies participating in State procurement procedures will have the right to choose their own form of guarantee payment. This proposal is contained in a package of amendments united in the draft law under the general definition of “Measures to support the business environment”.

The business cooperative Agrostoc held its annual report and election meeting. The members of the cooperative re-elected Ion Tulej (head of Farm Prod) as chairman of the Agrostoc Administrative Board for one year. The administrative board renewed the contract of the current chairman of the executive office of the cooperative Igor Tagadiuk for four years. The cooperative’s short-term strategy is cautious but progressive development.