The Minister for the Self-Employed and SMEs, Eléonore SIMONET, today unveils the SME Plan 2025, an ambitious programme comprising 89 concrete measures designed to strengthen the competitiveness, resilience and innovation capacity of Belgian small and medium-sized enterprises, with the guiding principle: “More opportunities, fewer obstacles”.
The self-employed and SMEs are the backbone of the Belgian economy. For the Minister, their success is essential: “Our entrepreneurs have the talent, let's give them the means to thrive. We need an economy where every idea can become a success.”
The SME Plan 2025 is a pillar of the federal Government's growth strategy. It aims to simplify entrepreneurs' lives, reduce administrative hurdles and support the country's economic transformation.
The Plan follows the Minister's guiding line: “More opportunities, fewer obstacles”.
A Plan born from listening and consultation
Developed through broad consultation with professional federations, the High Council for the Self-Employed and SMEs (HRZKMO), entrepreneurs and government partners, the Plan is based on a clear method: concrete, concrete, concrete.
“Since joining the Government, I have carried out numerous field visits. This SME Plan translates into action the needs expressed by those who create value and jobs”, the Minister points out.
Clearly identified challenges
The SME Plan 2025 responds to several worrying findings:
- 55% of SMEs report an excessive administrative burden;
- access to financing remains more difficult for small structures;
- public procurement remains insufficiently accessible to SMEs;
- and nearly 50% of young businesses cease operations within their first five years.
In response to these realities, the Plan aims to strengthen competitiveness, boost innovation, promote second chances for entrepreneurs and create an environment conducive to growth.
89 measures to transform the entrepreneurial ecosystem
The SME Plan 2025 comprises 89 structural measures, organised around several priority areas:
- reduce administrative and regulatory procedures;
- promote access to alternative financing;
- strengthen second chances;
- facilitate access to public procurement;
- support women-led entrepreneurship.
Note that no measure may result in an increase in the administrative burden on businesses. Each Minister will be responsible for implementing the measures within their competence.
Examples of strong measures include:
- the creation of a (progressive) parental leave for the self-employed
- the extension of maternity leave from 12 to 15 weeks (as for employees)
- free filing of annual accounts
- the introduction of a tax incentive for SMEs through the reinstatement of declining-balance investment depreciation
- the possibility for shopkeepers to receive direct compensation from the perpetrator in the event of shoplifting
A long-term commitment
“The resilience of our SMEs is our best response to global uncertainties. With this Plan, we want to unlock their potential, offer them a simpler and fairer framework, and enable them to turn their ambitions into success.”
The SME Plan 2025 marks a first step in a broader strategy: it sets the direction for the coming years, but is intended to evolve, as the Minister already announces: “This is only the beginning, there will be further SME Plans throughout the legislature”.