President of the Suceava SME Federation, Liliana AGHEORGHICESEI, at FERM 2025: “SMEs have been the government’s ATM for 32 years. It’s the 24th hour – a decision must be made”
100 economic opportunities for the development of the Moldova Region on the A7 Highway route
Vatra Dornei, July 9–13, 2025 | The Moldova Regional Economic Forum brought together, over the course of four days, key actors from local and central public administration, the business environment, academia, NGOs, and international organizations to discuss the future of a region at a turning point.
At the opening of the Moldova Regional Economic Forum (FERM) 2025, with a firm plea in support of the entrepreneurial environment, Liliana Agheorghicesei, President of the Federation of Small and Medium Enterprises in Suceava and First Vice President at the national level, captured the attention of all participants through her lucid, critical, and deeply committed tone regarding the real challenges faced by Romanian entrepreneurs.
SMEs do not ask for privileges, but for respect and predictability
SMEs are the backbone of the national economy, generating jobs, significantly contributing to the GDP, and supporting social cohesion across all regions of the country. Nevertheless, public policies in recent decades have not truly reflected the importance of this sector.
Liliana Agheorghicesei, President of the Suceava SME Federation, sounded the alarm regarding the imbalance between the state’s expectations from entrepreneurs and the actual support provided:
“Small and medium-sized enterprises are not asking for preferential treatment, nor for exemptions or special privileges. What we are asking for is the due respect for our work and contribution, a stable legislative framework, and a coherent fiscal policy that allows for long-term development. We need predictability so that we can plan, invest, and create value in our communities.”
She emphasized that SMEs can no longer unilaterally support a heavy and costly public system, especially as the tax burden continues to increase, while concrete support for entrepreneurs remains modest:
“We have been treated for too long as an inexhaustible source of revenue for the state budget. Governments have come and gone, but the approach has remained the same: SMEs are considered an ATM the state turns to whenever it needs money. This is a toxic and deeply unfair approach. If we want a solid economy, we must consistently support the actors who build it every day.”
This stance comes at a time when the Romanian business environment is facing fiscal uncertainty and a series of unpredictable public policies that discourage investment and limit entrepreneurs’ ability to grow sustainably.
Suffocating fiscal pressure blocks entrepreneurial initiative
In her address, Liliana Agheorghicesei highlighted the negative impact of the growing tax burden on small and medium-sized enterprises, stressing that the current economic model does not encourage investment, but rather resource conservation and risk avoidance.
“Under current conditions, the business environment no longer has room to grow. We are suffocated by taxes, levies, and contributions that increase year after year, without a clear strategy, without genuine reform of the state apparatus. An entrepreneur’s role is to build, to plan long-term, to invest in the future of their family and community. But how can we do that if our only concern becomes surviving from month to month?”
Liliana Agheorghicesei pointed out that the current tax pressure is no longer sustainable and issued a clear call to the authorities for structural measures to support entrepreneurship, rather than merely taxing it.
SMEs cannot indefinitely support an oversized public system
A recurring message in the speech was the need to reduce public spending and reform the administrative apparatus, which Liliana Agheorghicesei described as “bloated and wasteful”, placing a disproportionate burden on active taxpayers.
“It is unacceptable for SMEs to be forced to single-handedly support a public apparatus that lacks efficiency, generates no value, and only consumes resources. For years we have been promised reform, the closure of chronically unprofitable state entities, and improved public spending efficiency. Yet none of this has materialized.”
She suggested that only through genuine reform of the state can a fair partnership be created between the business environment and the authorities, where taxes are no longer a burden but a fair contribution to societal development.
Business preservation – a warning sign
One of the most alarming statements in the speech was that more and more entrepreneurs are choosing to “preserve” their businesses, meaning they are giving up development plans and scaling down activity to minimize losses.
“We’ve reached the point where we’re no longer talking about expansion or growth. We are talking about preservation. We’re trying to protect what we’ve built so far, avoid risks, downsize staff, and survive. This is a painful reality and a clear signal that things can no longer go on this way.”
This state of uncertainty affects not only the stability of businesses but also young people’s confidence in the opportunities to build a future in Romania.
Conclusions:
Liliana Agheorghicesei’s speech highlighted the urgent need for a firm commitment from the political class to assume responsibility for the business environment. It is essential that the relationship between authorities and entrepreneurs be based on an authentic partnership built on open dialogue, real cooperation, and a deep understanding of the economic challenges faced by SMEs. Such collaboration would not only reduce tensions generated by fiscal and administrative policies but also contribute to the creation of a stable and predictable climate essential for the region’s sustainable development.
Moreover, the economic future of the Moldova Region depends on strengthened solidarity between local entrepreneurs and international partners, as well as on a shared vision that integrates their experiences and resources into coherent development strategies. Only through a collective effort, where each actor assumes responsibility and contributes actively, can sustainable economic growth be ensured—one that transforms the region into a competitive regional hub attractive to investors.
Thus, the message conveyed during the Moldova Regional Economic Forum underlines the importance of profound structural reform aimed at streamlining public spending and genuinely supporting the private sector, enabling small and medium-sized enterprises to truly become engines of regional and national development.
