ROMANIAN-AMERICAN PROFESSIONALS NETWORK HOSTS OFFICIAL MEETING WITH MEMBERS OF THE ROMANIAN CONSULATE IN LOS ANGELES

Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) October 6, 2003 -- The Romanian-American Professionals Network (RAPN), an affiliation of Romanian-American professionals in Southern California hosted a welcoming dinner for the Honorable Claudiu Lucaci, who was recently appointed as the Consul General at the Romanian Consulate in Los Angeles.

Mr. Lucaci congratulated RAPN for its efforts in initiating such a network in Southern California, where there are approximately 60,000 Romanian-American residents. I look forward to seeing RAPN grow its membership and form a strong yet intimate network of Romanian-American professionals to better represent Romanias image and interests in the United States," said Mr. Lucaci.

Mr. Lucacis main mandate is to create a more positive image of Romania in the U.S. and to facilitate increased investment and bi-lateral trade between the two countries. Mr. Lucaci previously served as Romanias Government Spokesman and also as State Secretary within the Information Ministry.

Mr. Gabriel Dutu, Romanian Economic Counselor in Los Angeles, accompanied Mr. Lucaci. Mr. Dutu works hand-in-hand with RAPN to promote Romanian interests to American investors and trading partners. Mr. Dutu previously served a five-year term as Economic Counselor at Romanias Embassy in Beijing, P.R. of China, and recently as Economic Counselor at the Department of Foreign Trade in Romania.

RAPN also hosted Mr. Noble DraKoln, Author of Futures For Small Speculators, whose book was recently translated into Romanian. Mr. DraKoln is the President of Liverpool Derivatives Group, a Long Beach, California-based full service derivatives brokerage firm.

Mr. DraKoln provided an update on Romanians investment environment and explained how the implementation of futures and options would allow Romanias farmers to hedge against price fluctuations in the commodities marketplace. Although some of Romanias financial institutions are geared to offer derivative products at the local level, there is a lack of understanding of the derivative markets.

"Romania's $166 billion GDP consists of 15 percent from the agricultural sector and 50 percent from services, whereas US's $10.4 trillion GDP consists of only 2 percent from the agricultural sector and 80 percent from services. Romania has the capacity to triple its agricultural output, but without the proper financial backing and hedging instruments in place, this industry cannot operate efficiently and compete on the global market" said Mr. DraKoln. "Romania is a very exciting place to work and I look forward to many more visits to this beautiful land."

Mr. DraKolns mission is to provide education and training on hedging instruments to financial institutions and to the general public in developing countries. He recently visited Romania where he was a keynote speaker at the Sibiu Monetary-Financial and Commodity Exchanges 6th annual anniversary symposium. Mr. DraKoln is planning another trip to Romania in early November to lecture at the Romanian Commodities Exchange (RCE).

RAPN evolved from a common need: a united Romanian community in the United States focused on helping its members advance in their respective professions and interested in keeping abreast of the fast changing political and economic environment in their native country," said Mike Costache, a spokesperson for RAPN.
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About Romanian-American Professionals Network (RAPN). RAPN is a networking organization where professionals interested in Romanian-American related issues and activities can meet, socialize, and build long-lasting relationships to support each others' professional interests. Established in early 2003 by a group of motivated professionals sharing a common heritage, RAPNs goals are to facilitate career advancement of Romanian-American professionals, keep members informed on Romanian related issues and encourage activities with a positive impact on Romanias image and the Romanian community in the United States. For more information, please visit www.rapn.org.