Ungheni, Moldova

The cities of Winston-Salem and Ungheni, Moldova, agreed to be Sister Cities in the summer of 2000. Their partnership encompasses economic, cultural, and educational goals that will benefit both cities. Ungheni, population 43,000, is near the western border with Romania.

The region's economy is based on agriculture and textiles. It has a beautiful carpet-making industry dating back centuries. Today, the grape industry is an important component of Ugheni's rapidly growing wine industry.

Moldova (mole-DOH-vah) lies between Romania and the Ukraine in Eastern Europe. It has a population of about 4.5 million people in an area slightly larger than Maryland. It is an agrarian country of rolling countryside.