Chisinau - Kishinev - Culture 

Nowadays Kishinev is the capital of the Republic of Moldova, its administrative, scientifical, cultural and industrial centre.

At different historical times flags of four states had been streaming over our city. Till 1812 it belonged to the Moldovan state, from 1812 up to 1918 - to the Russian Empire, 1918 up to 1940 - to Romania, from 1940 up to 1991 to the Soviet Union. Now, over the House of President, the House of Parliament and the House of Government there is the tricolour of the independent state. For the first time Kishinev was mentioned in the historical documents in 1436, so the city is more than 560 years old.

Kishinev is situated in the very core of the country at the 47th degree 2 of the north latitude and the 28th degree 50 of the east longitude, it is located on the seven hills, and stretched along the tributary of the Dniester - the Bik. The total area of the city is about 200 square kilometres. The city map shows, that it is administratively divided into five districts: Central District, Botanica, Ciocani, Buiucani, Riscani.

The city population is more than 700 thousand; there are the representatives of different nationalities here. Many ethnic groups live here, such as the Moldovans, Russians, Bulgarians, Jewry, Ukrainians and others.

Kishinev is situated in the area with the mild, moderate-continental climate, under the Black Sea proximity influence. The city is especially beautiful in summer: under the bright-blue sky there are wide avenues, their pomposity is peacefully getting along with the unrepeatable atmosphere of the old Kishinev streets, white-stone buildings are buried in green foliage.

The airport, railway and auto station connect us with the world.

In the economical aspect Kishinev is the largest and the most developed city of the country. Its industry has more than 34 500 legal entities, the enterprises of mechanical, apparatus, engineering, electronics, jewellery, light, and food industries, woodworking industry and production of furniture, processing of natural leather and production of artificial leather, printing industry. Dozens of large enterprises were converted into limited companies. After the privatisation the state enterprises only constitute 5,9 percent of their whole quantity. Many joint ventures have appeared, among their founders - the juridical persons from Germany, Italy, Romania, Bulgaria, Holland, Belgium, Turkey, Russia, Ukraine, Bellorussia.

Foreign investments, creation of free enterprise zones, application of the up-to-date technologies contributes to support of competitiveness level of our goods in the international market. Nowadays more than 80 countries of the world buy the goods produced in Moldova. By the way, in addition to the wines, produced in Kishinev and Cricova and recognized all over the world and our preserved food of vegetables and fruits, the high mark has also been given to vacuum pumps, tractors, TV sets, washing machines, carpets, hosiery articles, sweets, cosmetics and perfume, volatile oils, clothes as well as the wide assortment of the meat and dairy products.

During last years the bank and financial system also underwent considerable changes. Except National Bank of Moldova, all the banks of the capital, disposing developed system of their subsidiaries all over the Republic, were converted into commercial and stockholder banks, their total quantity is more than 25 units. Moldovan banks - Victoriabank, "Moldova-Agroindbank", Banka Sociala, "Moldindconbank" and many others enjoy the confidence and authority in many countries of the world.

The representations of International Monetary Fund, International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, UN Development Programme, OANIS, OSCE, European Investment Bank as well as branches of some Russian and Romanian banks function in Kishinev.

Kishinev is the city with the developed public health Besides that in Kishinev there are 205 kindergartens, 133 secondary schools and lyceums, 16 institutes and 20 colleges, the number of those are constantly increasing. The Academy of Sciences of Moldova has the ramified net of the scientific-research wide-profile institutes.

11 high-professional theatres, 9 museums, 5 concerhalls, 48 libraries, 44 houses of culture and 8 cinemas maintain the cultural life. The activities of many creative organizations take place in Kishinev: Union of Writers, Union of Artists, Union of Cinematographers, Union of Composers, Union of Journalists, Union of Architects, Union of Photographers and others. One can watch 6 TV channels and listen to 12 radio channels.

The variety of hotels and restaurants is at the tourists’ and guests’ of our capital disposal. A little walk round the night Kishinev will give you plenty of enjoinment.

Our city has modern stadiums and sport complexes, a racecourse, as well as the famous trace of motor races that is considered to be one of the best in Europe.

What will you say, dear friend? We hope that the language of statistics have not bored you to death yet, but, just the opposite, convinced you, that our city is a contemporaneous one, and it is waiting for the future with hope and confidence.