Talent, Team Spirit and Sustainable Growth – Values Celebrated at AHK Romania’s Summer Festival
The most beloved event of the AHK Romania community, which also marks the start of the summer season, the Summer Festival was held 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) organized a special June evening for the members and friends of the Romanian-German business community, in the garden of the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Bucharest.
“We strongly believe in the value of people and the importance of continuously developing their skills. Only by investing in people can we remain competitive in an increasingly dynamic environment. In line with this idea, I am pleased to announce the launch of AHK Romania’s first mentoring program, dedicated to preparing the next generation of leaders. We therefore invite leaders from your companies to join us in this initiative and to share their experience with the generations to come,” said Sebastian Metz, General Manager of AHK Romania, at the opening of the event.
In this spirit, guests at the Summer Festival also included members of Germany’s junior football team, who are currently participating in the UEFA U19 Championship taking place in Romania.
The evening also marked the official handover of the presidency of the Romanian-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry, from former president Andreas Lier (CEO of BASF) to Volker Raffel (CEO of E.ON Romania).
“AHK Romania is a success story, thanks to its growth and the contribution it has made to companies and society. I believe this is closely linked to the team and the way it has been represented by Sebastian Metz and Andreas Lier. My task will be to continue this direction, as AHK Romania needs to keep supporting companies and have a strong 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 culture, sports, and economy—to build a more united and stronger continent, a goal to which the business environment, with its multinational experience, can contribute.
A transition is also taking place at the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Romania. In his farewell speech, Ambassador Peer Gebauer highlighted the close collaboration with AHK Romania during his term, especially in organizing visits of high-ranking German officials.
“It is well known that German-Romanian economic relations are excellent. I think there is something very special that connects our two countries. And of course, my thanks go to all the people dedicated to strengthening these ties,” said Gebauer.
Alongside music and quality networking, the traditional charity raffle was also organized. AHK member companies offered over 530 prizes, and the amount raised from ticket sales—around 8,000 euros (39,745 lei)—was donated to the Romanian Red Cross.
A milestone was also purchased for the entire AHK community on the Via Transilvanica trail. This symbol represents the AHK community’s commitment to sustainability, education, and collaboration.
Via Transilvanica connects people and regions—just as our community builds bridges between economy and society. Through this gesture, we show that we are taking 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, aiming to bring together the Romanian-German business community with other sectors of society.
The event was attended by around 700 guests from politics, business, public administration, civil society, and media—offering a perfect opportunity for new connections, partnerships, and contacts in a relaxed and opportunity-rich setting.
