Moldova is the second smallest of the former Soviet states (33,700 square km) and borders Romania in the West and the Ukraine in the East and South.

Moldova is a low-income country with a gross national income per capita of $810 in 2005 (GNI, Atlas method). The country is small, landlocked, and densely populated. It has few natural resources and is entirely dependent upon imports for its primary energy requirements as well as for inputs for its manufacturing industries.

Endowed with rich agricultural land and a temperate climate, Moldova has relied heavily on agriculture throughout its history. Currently, agriculture and agro-processing activities account for roughly 30 percent of the country’s GDP, and many people still make their livelihoods in this sector. Over half the population lives in rural areas.