SMEs’ Public Involvement in the Regional Sustainable Development

The paper presents the results of an analysis concerning the contribution of the SMEs in Romania to the sustainable growth. Beside the desk research, the analysis relies on a survey carried out within the framework of a Romanian research project, related to the citizens’ opinions concerning the main regional growth drivers. In addition, the paper emphasizes the need of a pro-active involvement of the SMEs in the public life, according to their increasing role, in order to play a major part in the strategy design and decision making processes related to the regional sustainable development.