On Thursday 24 March 2016, Luxembourg's Secretary of State for the Economy, Francine Closener, presented the 4th action plan for SMEs.
The document includes 99 measures structured around 10 themes: entrepreneurship promotion and entrepreneurship, adaptation of regulation to changes in the labour market, access to financing and implementation of an innovation and research environment.
Approved by the Government's Cabinet on 16 March, the action plan is a basis for conducting a number of actions in favour of SMEs. The High Committee for the support of SMEs and entrepreneurship will monitor the implementation of the plan that was developed in close consultation with employers' federations and with the ministries and departments concerned.
At the launch, Secretary of State Closener said "The action plan is a compromise text for all parties to adhere. The plan is not intended to be a statistical document, but to evolve over time. This is to include at any time, in consultation with stakeholders, new actions to help SMEs cope with the challenges that have not yet been identified at this stage."
Present at the press conference were Michel Reckinger (Federation of Craftsmen), Fernand Ernster (Luxembourg Confederation of Commerce) and François Koepp (Horesca) who have generally welcomed the plan which is the result of a participatory process and that the proposed measures aim to create a framework conducive to the creation and development of the SME sector.
SMEs play a leading role in terms of economic growth and job creation. Employing more than 200,000 people in the Grand Duchy, small and medium enterprises account for 32,000 craft and commercial businesses, including the hospitality sector, as well as certain other professions.
Photo by MECO (L-R): Fernand Ernster, Confédération luxembourgeoise du commerce; Francine Closener, Secretary of State for the Economy; Michel Reckinger, Fédération des artisans
