The immigration quota for 2008 will be 2,068 people or by 22 persons fewer than this year, Info-Prim Neo reports. Minister of Economy and Trade Igor Dodon on December 26 said that the immigration quota in 2007 was used up in nine months owing to the high demand for skilled specialists for investment projects. According to Dodon, in order to increase the immigration quota they are now considering the possibility of modifying the legal framework so as to fix the ceiling of immigrants depending on the necessities emerging during the year. The immigration quota in Moldova was fulfilled for the first time in 2006. About 1,000 people came to Moldova to work, while the others to study or to reintegrate with the family. In 2005, the immigration quota of 2,104 people was 97% fulfilled. According to official statistics, about 334,000 Moldovans work abroad at present. The unofficial accounts show that the number of Moldovans that are abroad varies between 500,000 and one million. Moldova’s population decreased from 4.4 million at the census taken in 1989 to 3.9 million in 2004. The immigration quota is fixed yearly by law. It makes up 0.05% of the people able to work. Under the present legislation, the quota must not exceed 3% of the total population. The given figure in other countries is 7-8%.