January 30, 2003

U.S. Department of Commerce Assistant Secretary for Market Access and Compliance William H. Lash III visited Romania from January 27 to 30, to highlight strengthened U.S./Romanian commercial relations. During his three days in the country, Lash discussed crucial commercial projects and critical business climate issues with senior Romanian Government officials, including Prime Minister Adrian Nastase, Minister of Foreign Affairs Mircea Geoana, Minister of Industry and Resources Dan Popescu, Minister of Transportation Miron Mitrea, Minister of Justice Rodica Stanoiu, Defense Minister Ioan Pascu, Communications and IT Minister Dan Nica, Communications and IT Secretary of State Adriana Ticau, Minister of Public Information Vasile Dancu, and State Secretary of Foreign Trade Eugen Dijmarescu.

In his meetings with the key Romanian Government officials, Assistant Secretary Lash congratulated the Romanian Government on its successes to date, but added that improving the business climate was crucial to attracting even more U.S. companies to the Romanian market. According to Lash, "Romania must continue to battle corruption and aggressively prosecute those who violate intellectual property rights. Strengthening Romania's judicial system is also key to improving Romania's business climate."

On January 28, Assistant Secretary Lash, together with Minister of Public Information Vasile Dancu, helped launch a USD $85 million U.S. Ex-Im Bank-supported project by the U.S. Harris Corporation to modernize the broadcast infrastructure of the National Radio-Communications Company. On January 29, Mr. Lash and Minister of Defense Ioan Pascu witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Lockheed Martin, Romtehnica, and UTI on gap-filler radar systems co-production. Also on January 29, Assistant Secretary Lash and Minister of Transportation Mitrea witnessed the signing of a USD $100 million contract between General Motors and the Romanian Passenger Railways for the modernization of 57 locomotives.

"The launching of the Harris project, the signing of the General Motors contract and the Lockheed Martin Memorandum of Understanding all demonstrate the growing strength of U.S./Romanian commercial relations," said Lash.

Assistant Secretary Lash first visited Romania in March 2002. "Romania has become a very important partner for the United States. During both of my visits to Romania, I have been impressed with the large number of opportunities here which exist for U.S. companies."