Liliana AGHEORGHICESEI (President of the Suceava SMEs Employers’ Associations) at FERM 2025: “SMEs must be treated as strategic partners, not as temporary beneficiaries.”

REGIONAL ECONOMIC FORUM MOLDOVA 2025

19th Edition – Vatra Dornei, July 9–13, 2025

Thematic Panel:

Strategic Investments in the Extended Region of Moldova

Speaker:

Liliana Agheorghicesei – President of the Suceava SMEs Employers’ Associations

Topic of the intervention:
“The Local Business Environment – Suceava County”

Within Panel 1, Strategic Investments in the Extended Region of Moldova, Liliana Agheorghicesei, president of the Suceava SMEs Employers’ Associations, brought to the forefront the real challenges faced by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), as well as the essential role they play in the regional economy.

Speaking openly about the need for representation, genuine public-private partnership, and coherent economic policies, Liliana Agheorghicesei issued a clear call to entrepreneurs and decision-makers: without investment in people and support structures, economic development risks remaining a theoretical objective.

“Don’t forget that major investments rely on the work of SMEs”

Liliana Agheorghicesei offered a balanced perspective, well anchored in the realities of local entrepreneurship.

“When we talk about strategic investments, some may say that we, SMEs, fail to rise to the level of large-scale projects. But let us not forget that many of these investments are made with the direct contribution of SMEs, through complementary works and services integrated into large projects.”

The president of the Suceava SMEs Employers’ Associations emphasized that, for local entrepreneurs, investments are not an option but a necessary condition for the survival and sustainable development of businesses. In this regard, she pointed out the importance of a real support framework, both from banks and from the state.

“Profit cannot exist without investments. And investments cannot be made without solid partnerships – either with the banking sector or with public authorities. We need a genuine public-private partnership, supported by coherent policies. Only in this way can our businesses truly prosper.”

Efforts for regulating lobbying activity: “Without a legal framework, the risk of being misunderstood remains high”

A central point of the intervention addressed the necessity of adopting clear legislation regarding lobbying activity – an initiative actively supported by the SMEs Employers’ Associations in the name of legitimate and transparent representation of business interests.

“We are making considerable efforts for the lobbying law to be adopted. It is essential that we can represent entrepreneurs legally and openly, without being exposed to the risk of being accused of influence peddling. Currently, for a small entrepreneur, it is almost impossible to bring a problem to a minister’s attention without being viewed with suspicion. This is the role of employers’ associations – to ensure a bridge of communication between the business environment and the authorities.”

Liliana Agheorghicesei stressed that the representativeness of employers’ organizations is regulated by law, and their involvement in institutional dialogue is not only legitimate but necessary.

“SME Romania has representation at the national level and solid experience, marking 32 years of activity this year. Together with Concordia, we form a credible and authorized voice of the business environment in relation to decision-makers.”

Call to entrepreneurs: “Join employers’ associations and become part of a consolidated voice”

In her speech, Liliana Agheorghicesei addressed a firm and motivating appeal to the entrepreneurs present, emphasizing the importance of solidarity and representation in the local business environment.

“I invite you to get actively involved in the employers’ structures that truly represent your interests. Only through a collective, strong, and united voice can we gain visibility and respect in front of decision-makers. We do not aspire to influence through personal ambition, but to ensure that decision-makers treat seriously and responsibly the needs and challenges of entrepreneurs.”

“We support our activity from our own resources, without public funds”

In a moment of sincerity and transparency, Liliana Agheorghicesei clarified a frequent misunderstanding regarding the status of leaders of employers’ organizations.

“We, the representatives of employers’ associations, are not paid from public money. We live from our own companies. We want to attract as many members as possible, not for positions, but for collective strength.”

Suceava Free Zone – from initiative to concrete action

Referring to the recent initiative regarding the establishment of a free zone in Suceava, Liliana Agheorghicesei emphasized the importance of quick reaction and thorough documentation:

“As soon as we learned from the press about this idea, I acted promptly together with my team, traveling to Galați, where there is already a functional free zone, to understand the mechanisms and advantages of this form of organization. Later, we held discussions in Brussels with representatives of the European Commission to identify direct financing possibilities for such projects.”

This approach highlights the necessity of a proactive and courageous attitude, essential to overcome the waiting stage and to boost regional economic development.

Lack of real consultation of the business environment – a major obstacle for SMEs

Without holding back, the president of the SMEs Employers’ Associations sent a strong alarm signal regarding the decision-making process of the current government in the fiscal and economic domain.

“The government had a period of one month to adopt decisions, while the business environment and trade unions had only 30 minutes for consultation. The result is obvious: the burden of these measures hit disproportionately the small and medium enterprises, the true generators of added value.”

Conclusions:

Liliana Agheorghicesei emphasized the essential importance of small and medium enterprises in the regional economic development process. By highlighting the role of SMEs not only as executors in the chain of major investments but also as autonomous actors actively contributing to economic growth and innovation, a clear message was sent regarding the need to support them through solid partnerships, adapted legislation, and effective representation.

According to the president of the Suceava SMEs Employers’ Associations, strategic investments must include not only financial resources but also strengthening institutional and social structures that support the local business environment, especially through the organization and mobilization of entrepreneurs into strong employers’ associations.

This holistic approach provides solid premises for building a competitive regional economic ecosystem, where collaboration between the public and private sectors, access to financing, and legitimate representation are the fundamental pillars of long-term success.