The Moldovan government and the US Millennium Challenge Corporation have signed the Compact Programme providing for a 262-million-dollar grant to improve irrigation infrastructure, agriculture and restore roads, the government's press service has said.

The agreement was signed by Moldovan Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign and European Integration Minister Iurie Leanca and the executive director of the Millennium Challenge Corporation, Daniel Yohanes, assisted by Moldovan Prime Minister Vlad Filat and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. The signing ceremony took place at the US Department of State.

"The Preliminary Country Programme, previously implemented in Moldova with the support of the Millennium Challenge Corporation, has already created a friendly environment for innovations, productivity and enhanced access to markets," Daniel Yohanes said.

He noted that through the Compact Programme, Millennium Challenge Corporation wants to deepen the partnership with Moldovan citizens aimed at supporting sustained economic growth.

"The Moldovan government bears the high responsibility to implement the Compact Programme transparently and efficiently," Daniel Yohanes said.

For her part, Hillary Clinton said that this agreement represents a new chapter in relations between Moldova and the USA.

"To become eligible and sign this agreement, Moldova made much progress and assumed many reforms. We are very glad that, alongside other states that we back, Moldova will continue the string of US actions streamlined towards consolidation of democracy," the secretary of state said.

Hillary Clinton said that Obama administration is willing to build a strong partnership with Moldova and the signing of the Compact Agreement is a victory of the Moldovan government.

"To get here, we covered a long and difficult way with many impediments, but the citizens of the Republic of Moldova want another life and have been fighting for it. Our priorities are to build a state based on the rule of law, to create a functional economy and ensure European integration. All these require not only effort but also support from partners," Prime Minister Vlad Filat said.

Filat said that during his visit to the USA, he convinced himself that Moldova has many friends who want to help and promised he would return to the USA.

"By signing the agreement, the USA sends a clear message of support to Moldova. I thank you on behalf of the government and citizens of the Republic of Moldova for all that you do for us. We assure you that every dollar given within the Compact Programme will be used in the benefit of citizens," Filat said.