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USTDA GRANTS SUPPORT ROMANIA’S EU ACCESSION EFFORTS

 

BUCHAREST, ROMANIA – (April 3, 2006) The U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) reaffirmed its support for Romania’s efforts to join the European Union (EU) today with the award of three grants.  The grants will facilitate efforts by U.S. industry to provide technology and expertise to Romania as it continues the EU accession process. 

 

The grants will fund assistance to Romania in meeting various requirements associated with EU membership.  They include: a $349,480 grant to ROMAG-TERMO for a feasibility study on methods of reducing sulfur-dioxide emissions at the Drobeta combined heat and power plant; a $266,432 grant to the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology for technical assistance in establishing a coherent strategy to handle electronic service needs of the Romanian government; and a $187,455 grant to the Ministry of Justice to provide technical assistance in establishing an audio video court recording system for the Romanian court system.

 

“The common thread in these three projects is their important role in helping Romania meet the standards necessary for it to proceed with its EU membership,” commented USTDA Director Thelma J. Askey on today’s grant signings.  “Romania has made great strides in the last 10 years to reform its political and economic systems to build a thriving market economy.  During that time, USTDA has had the pleasure of supporting many activities designed to help Romania meet its developmental goals.” 

 

U.S. Ambassador to Romania Nicholas Taubman signed the grant agreements on behalf of the U.S. government. Minister of Justice Monica Luisa Macovei, Minister of Communications and Information Technology Zsolt Nagy, and Minister of Economy and Commerce Ioan Codrut Seres, respectively, signed the agreements on behalf of the Romanian government.  Mr. Daniel D. Stein, USTDA Europe and Eurasia Regional Director, signed as a witness to the agreements.

 

Romania is targeted to join the EU in 2007.  The USTDA-funded assistance provided by the grants awarded today will advance that goal by enabling Romania to meet higher environmental standards for pollution/emissions at power plants; create an integrated information and communications technology system between ministries to help deliver improved electronic services; and institute new audio/video technology to ensure judicial transparency.

 

The opportunities to conduct the feasibility study and provide the technical assistance under the grants awarded today will be competed separately on the Federal Business Opportunities website at www.fedbizopps.gov.  Interested U.S. firms should submit proposals according to the instructions contained in the Federal Business Opportunities announcements.  ROMAG-TERMO, the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, and the Ministry of Justice will select the U.S. contractors that will provide the assistance funded by their respective USTDA grants.

 

The U.S. Trade and Development Agency advances economic development and U.S. commercial interests in developing and middle-income countries.  The agency funds various forms of technical assistance, feasibility studies, training, orientation visits and business workshops that support the development of a modern infrastructure and a fair and open trading environment.  USTDA’s strategic use of foreign assistance funds to support sound investment policy and decision-making in host countries creates an enabling environment for trade, investment and sustainable economic development.  In carrying out its mission, USTDA gives emphasis to economic sectors that may benefit from U.S. exports of goods and services.

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