BUCHAREST, ROMANIA - (September 16, 2003) The U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) awarded a $175,600 grant today to the Romanian Ministry of Agriculture, Forests, Waters and Environment to fund a feasibility study on the development of a national forestry cadastre system in Romania. The proposed cadastre system would be used to improve the overall management of Romania's forestry land using Geographic Information System (GIS) technology. The grant represents USTDA's commitment to assist Romania in developing technology to control its natural resources and to protect its forests.

The grant was conferred in a signing ceremony at the Romanian Ministry of Agriculture, Forests, Waters and Environment in Bucharest. Mr. Jonathan Marks, Senior Commercial Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Bucharest, signed the agreement on behalf of the U.S. Government. Mr. Adam Craciunescu, Secretary of State at the Romanian Ministry of Agriculture, Forests, Waters and Environment, signed on behalf of the Government of Romania.

The USTDA-funded study will evaluate the technical and economic feasibility of establishing a national cadastre system with the use of GIS technology to manage Romania's forests. The study will assist the Ministry in achieving two primary goals: (1) implementing a national cadastre system using GIS technology for forestry land; and (2) utilizing the same GIS technology to achieve a sustainable forest ecosystem through the large-scale introduction of biological forest pest control methods.

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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