Moldova increases financial thresholds for SME classification

The Moldovan Parliament has approved, in its first reading, an initiative to double the financial thresholds for classifying small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Under the new proposal, the annual turnover limit will increase from 25 million to 50 million euros, while the asset ceiling will rise from 21.5 million to 43 million euros.

This legislative change aims to align Moldovan standards with European criteria. It is estimated that approximately 147 additional companies will gain access to specialized support programs and financial instruments.

The project also introduces a new intermediate category known as ‘small mid-caps’. This category is designed to support companies that have outgrown the standard SME definition but are not yet large enough to handle the legal and compliance requirements of major corporations. Additionally, the initiative establishes a mechanism to support export activities through credit guarantees, insurance, direct financing, and interest rate support.