Talent, Team Spirit and Sustainable Growth – The Values Celebrated at AHK Romania’s Summer Festival
The most beloved event of the AHK Romania community, which also marks the beginning of the summer season, the Summer Festival, took place this year under the sign of competitiveness, promoting teamwork and employee skills.
As every year, the Romanian-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (AHK Romania) prepared a special June evening for the members and friends of the Romanian-German business community, held in the garden of the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Bucharest.
“We firmly believe in the value of people and in the importance of continuous skills development. Only by investing in people can we remain competitive in an increasingly dynamic environment. In line with this belief, I am announcing the launch of AHK Romania’s first mentoring program, dedicated to preparing the new generation of leaders. Therefore, we invite leaders from your companies to join us in this endeavor and to share their experience with the next generation,” said Sebastian Metz, CEO of AHK Romania, in his opening speech.
In this spirit, guests at the Summer Festival also included members of Germany’s junior football team, who are participating in the UEFA U19 Championship currently taking place in Romania.
The evening also featured the official presidency handover of the Romanian-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry, from former President Andreas Lier (CEO BASF) to Volker Raffel (CEO E.ON Romania).
“AHK Romania is a success story thanks to its development and its contribution to companies and society. This is largely due to the team and how it was led by Sebastian Metz and Andreas Lier. My role will be to continue this path, because AHK Romania must keep supporting companies and have a voice to represent them when needed,” said the new president of AHK Romania, Volker Raffel. He also emphasized the importance of cooperation between European nations—in cultural, sports, and economic sectors—to create a more united and stronger continent, a mission in which the business community, with its multinational experience, can play an essential role.
A change of leadership will also take place at the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Romania. In his farewell speech, Ambassador Peer Gebauer mentioned the close collaboration with AHK Romania during his term, especially regarding the organization of high-level visits from German officials.
“It is well known that German-Romanian economic relations are outstanding. I believe there is something truly special that binds our two countries. And, of course, my sincere thanks go to all those dedicated to strengthening these ties,” said Ambassador Gebauer.
In addition to music and quality networking, the traditional charity raffle was also organized. AHK member companies donated over 530 prizes, and the funds raised from ticket sales—around 8,000 euros (39,745 RON)—were donated to the Romanian Red Cross.
A milestone was also purchased for the entire AHK community on Via Transilvanica. This symbol represents the community’s commitment to sustainability, education, and collaboration.
Via Transilvanica connects people and regions—just as our community builds bridges between the economy and society. Through this gesture, we show that we take on an active role in shaping a responsible and connected future.
The Summer Festival is a long-standing tradition of AHK Romania, organized for over 20 years, with the goal of bringing together the Romanian-German business community with other sectors of society.
This year’s event gathered approximately 700 guests from the political, business, public administration, civil society, and media spheres, providing the perfect setting for new connections, partnerships, and opportunities in a relaxed and dynamic environment.
About the Romanian-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (AHK Romania)
AHK Romania is the official representative of the German economy in Romania. Established in 2002, AHK has over 670 member companies and offers a vital platform for networking, information exchange, and collaboration. Through its services and events, AHK Romania actively supports German companies entering the Romanian market and is also a trusted partner for Romanian companies interested in the German market.
Since January 1, 2020, AHK Romania has also hosted the Competence Center for the Republic of Moldova, aiming to strengthen business relations between Romania, Moldova, and Germany and contribute to Moldova’s economic development.
Theme for 2025: People. Skills. Competitiveness.
With this annual theme, AHK Romania highlights the central role of employees in a company’s success. Skilled and valuable employees form the backbone of innovation, productivity, and growth. By investing in their skills and continuous training, companies can create a dynamic work environment that encourages creativity and commitment. AHK member companies therefore focus on strategic talent management and employee wellbeing, to enhance business performance and promote a sustainable, competitive business environment in Romania and Germany.
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20.06.2025 / Editor, Andreea Dragan
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