The citizens of Moldova can be proud of the distance covered by their country in the last few years, stated German Chancellor Angela Merkel in her speech delivered at the Republican Palace. The German official mentioned that the sovereign decision on Moldova’s further path is exclusively in the hands of this country’s citizens, reports Info-Prim Neo. Angela Merkel stated that her visit to Chisinau was a personal wish, and an additional reason is that, being Europeans, we are neighbors, and Moldova and Germany have been building good and diverse bilateral relations for 20 years. The Chancellor declared that Germany is one of Moldova’s most important commercial partners; German entrepreneurs contribute to the development of industry, agriculture, and create numerous workplaces here, in Moldova. The Chancellor added that the German enterprises are interested in extending their commitments to Moldova. “The promotion of economic structural reforms remains a priority, and we focus in this sense on the promotion of small and medium enterprises. From our German experience, these enterprises are the spine of the economy and precisely in the rural space one can greatly contribute to a country’s economy. These enterprises shouldn’t be focused only on few targets” noted the German Chancellor. Angela Merkel stated that progress important to the country’s modernization happens in Moldova, it is opted for democratic reforms and market economy, thus preparing the foundation to serve the citizens’ interests.