Monetary & Banking 

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Moldova
conventional short form: Moldova
local long form: Republica Moldova
local short form: none
former: Soviet Socialist Republic of Moldova; Moldavia

 

Capital:

Chisinau (Kishinev). Population: 662,200 (official estimate 2004).
 

 

Location:

Eastern Europe, northeast of Romania

 

Area:

33,800 sq km (13,050 sq miles).

 

Description:
Moldova is a small landlocked state in southeastern Europe – one of the most highly populated republics of the former USSR. To the north, east and south, Moldova is bound by Ukraine; to the west by Romania. The River Prut constitutes the border with Romania. The country has rich pastures and wooded slopes, ideal for wine-growing.
 

Population:

4.3 million (UN estimate 2005).
 

 

Languages:

Moldovan (official), although considered to be virtually identical to Romanian. Russian is still the most widely-spoken language.
 

 

Climate:

Very mild and pleasant. Temperate with warm summers 20 to 23?�C (68 to 73?�F), crisp, sunny autumns and cold, sometimes snowy, winters.

Economy - overview:

Moldova remains one of the poorest countries in Europe. It has a temperate climate and good farmland but has no major mineral deposits and must import almost all of its energy supplies. As a result, the economy depends heavily on agriculture, particularly fruits, vegetables, wine and tobacco.

GDP grew by 6% or more every year between 2000-05, though this was based largely on consumption fed by money received from Moldovans working outside of the country - about 25% of working-age Moldovans are employed abroad. The country had an unemployment rate of 7.3% in 2005.

The illegal separatist regime in the Transistria region also continues to drag on the Moldovan economy.

Economy:

Moldova remains one of the poorest countries in Europe. It has a temperate climate and good farmland but has no major mineral deposits and must import almost all of its energy supplies. As a result, the economy depends heavily on agriculture, particularly fruits, vegetables, wine and tobacco.

GDP grew by 6% or more every year between 2000-05, though this was based largely on consumption fed by money received from Moldovans working outside of the country - about 25% of working-age Moldovans are employed abroad. The country had an unemployment rate of 7.3% in 2005.

The illegal separatist regime in the Transistria region also continues to drag on the Moldovan economy.
 

 

Industries:

food processing, agricultural machinery, foundry equipment, refrigerators and freezers, washing machines, hosiery, sugar, vegetable oil, shoes, textiles