Business Consulting Institute and Hancesti Region Council recently launched the project „Eco-rural tourism in the Forests of Lapusna”, financially assisted by the European Commission through TACIS CBC MPF program. The goal of the project is to intensify the trans-border cooperation between the Hancesti Region Council and Iasi District Council in order to promote the tourism in the trans-border area and to enhance the value of the regional tourism. The main activities in the framework of this project will be the elaboration of the Tourism Development Strategy, the launch of the Centre for Tourism Promotion together with the web page dedicated to tourism; the organization of seminars and work shops; the publishing of a tourist guide brochure of Hancesti region; the creation and promotion of three trans-border tourist itineraries. The target group includes regional and local level public authorities, agricultural entrepreneurs and those from the services sector (accommodation, public food, commerce, transport and museums) from Hancesti region. The EUR 61, 5 thousand project will be implemented during August 2006-Januaru 2007. Applicant and beneficiary are the Hancesti Region Council, international partner - Iasi District Council, national partner - Business Consulting Institute and local partner- AO „Hancesti Tur”. During the opening ceremony His Excellency the Ambassador of Romania in the Republic of Moldova, Filip Teodorescu and Deputy minister of Local Public Administration, Valentin Guzun were present and also representatives from the local public authorities from the Republic of Moldova and Romania, the partners of the projects, economic agents from the field of tourism. Business Consulting Institute is an NGO that offers consultancy services in the economic and juridical fields. The institute performs trainings in the fields of strategic planning, trans-border cooperation and tourism, market research and a wide range of connected activities.