Commercial exchange between Bulgaria and Romania in January-August 2008 equalled in volume the exchange reported for the entire 2007, or 1,650 million euros, sources from the Rousse-based Bulgarian-Romanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry said.

Imports of Romanian goods in Bulgaria in January-August stood at 961 million euros, and exports of Bulgarian goods to Romania, at 689 million euros.

Romanian tourists visiting Bulgaria in 2008 accounted for the greatest share of foreign visitors.

Preliminary data show that in January-August Bulgaria was visited by 4,332,859 foreigners, exclusive of people passing via this country, which is 15 per cent more than the figure for the like period in 2007. A total of 732,006 Romanians visited Bulgaria.

A total of 3,956,438 Bulgarians travelled abroad in January-August, which 37.9 per cent up the figure for the like period in 2007. A total of 324,313 Bulgarians visited Romania which makes it the fourth most favourite destination of Bulgarian tourists.

The data was made available by the Service for Trade and Economic Affairs with the Bulgarian Embassy in Bucharest.