The Minister of Economy and Commerce of Moldova (MEC), Valeriu Lazar, and the extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Spain to the Republic of Moldova, with the headquarters in Bucharest, Juan Pablo Garcia-Berdoy Cerezo, signed on Thursday, May 11, the Agreement on mutual promoting and protection of the investments, according to MEC Public Relations Service. According to the Agreement, the parts made the commitment to mutually promote investments on the territories of the two countries. Agreement provisions, signed for a 10-year term, will be applied as well on investments made before its conclusion. “We consider that signing the Agreement will contribute to strengthening economic cooperation, will favorably influence different cooperation areas between the states, and will intensify Spanish investment inflow to Moldova,” Lazar mentioned. The commercial exchanges of the Republic of Moldova with Spain amounted, in 2005, to 22.14 million dollars, increasing by 50.4% compared to 2004, or by 7.42 million dollars. The exports performed by Moldovan businessmen in Spain reached to 4.07 million dollars, registering an increase of about 1, 09 million dollars compared to 2004. Imports from Spain in 2005 constituted about 18, 07 million dollars, increasing by 3, 35 million dollars comparing to 2004. According to the statistic data of 2005, Spain holds the 2nd place in the top of direct investments in Moldova, amounting to the total sum of to 81, 2 million dollars. Spain is followed in the direct investment list by USA, Netherlands and Germany with 147,7 million USD.