The role of small and medium-sized businesses in the structure of the regional sectoral economy

in the context of rapid transformation of the economic environment and the need to increase the sustainability of regional systems, the role of small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) as one of the key factors in socio-economic development is becoming increasingly important. Objective: to study the influence of small and medium-sized businesses on the formation and evolution of the sectoral structure of the regional economy. Methods: the analysis covers the period from 2019 to 2024 and is based on official statistics, materials of regional authorities, as well as the results of expert interviews with representatives of business and organizations of the entrepreneurship support infrastructure. Results: it was found that SMEs occupy a significant place in the regional economy, providing employment for over 210 thousand people and forming about 28% of the gross regional product. Small businesses are represented in all major sectors of the economy – trade, manufacturing, construction, services, agriculture and information technology. However, its development faces a number of significant barriers: limited access to financing, administrative obstacles, a shortage of qualified personnel and insufficient digitalization. The paper examines government support measures implemented at the federal and regional levels, including preferential lending, tax incentives, grant financing and development of support infrastructure. It is noted that despite certain successes, these measures require further improvement in order to increase their accessibility, transparency and targeting. Conclusions: the need for a systematic approach to the development of the entrepreneurial environment is emphasized, including deepening interaction between business, government and the scientific community, as well as modernization of government support mechanisms.

small and medium-sized businesses, sectoral structure of the economy, regional development, government support, entrepreneurship, competitiveness, digitalization, employment