Luxembourg Presents National Observatory for SMEs

On 21 October 2021, Luxembourg's Minister for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises, Lex Delles, the Director General of the Chamber of Commerce, Carlo Thelen, the Director General of the Chamber of Skilled Trades and Crafts, Tom Wirion, and the CEO of the House of Entrepreneurship, Tom Baumert, presented the National Observatory for SMEs.

This economic interest group (EIG), initiated by the State, the Chamber of Commerce and the Chamber of Skilled Trades and Crafts, is intended to promote and support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the trade and craft sector. The National Observatory for SMEs contributes in particular to the realisation of three significant projects, namely the management of the business registry (cadastre du commerce), the opening of new regional offices of the House of Entrepreneurship and the promotion of a national platform for business transfers.

The business registry, which is carried out on a national scale, is a tool offering a precise vision of the commercial landscape in Luxembourg. Its purpose is to develop, set up and manage a database making it possible to map the existing commercial units on the national territory. The registry is also used to identify trends in order to support the development of the retail trade of local players, such as municipalities.

The expansion of the network of regional offices of the House of Entrepreneurship, in the south in Esch-sur-Alzette and in the east in Mondorf-les-Bains, is aimed at making it possible to get closer to entrepreneurs and facilitate access to information concerning the creation, development, digitalisation, financing or even the takeover of a business. The two counters will be open by appointment on Thursdays and Fridays from 09:00 to 12:00 and from 13:00 to 17:00.

Carlo Thelen emphasised that “the promotion of entrepreneurship is one of the key missions of the House of Entrepreneurship and the opening of these two counters thus makes it possible to strengthen the support of project leaders and entrepreneurs established in Luxembourg”.

The transfer, sale and takeover of a business are often complex processes that require careful preparation. In this context, the General Directorate for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises, the Chamber of Commerce and the Chamber of Skilled Trades and Crafts are offering support through the creation of a single national platform for business transfers: www.businesstransfer.lu. Tom Wirion noted that, since its launch in January, "the platform has a total of 79 active sale offers and 209 announcements of buyers. In all, 509 contacts have already been followed up by the two professional chambers, including 112 transfers, 33 intermediaries and 364 buyers”.

Minister Lex Delles concluded: “In a constantly changing economy, we want to provide stable and increased support to small and medium-sized enterprises. We promote their development in particular through initiatives coordinated by the National Observatory for SMEs. This tool also makes it possible to strengthen collaboration between the main players in the promotion of small and medium-sized enterprises, including the government, the Chamber of Commerce and the Chamber of Skilled Trades and Crafts”.