AHK Romania member companies place competitiveness at the core of their concerns, alongside employees and their skills. The business environment views the European theme as essential for meeting the challenges of global markets and achieving sustainable development. This is why AHK Romania, together with its member companies, has chosen the concept “People. Skills. Competitiveness” as the guiding motto for their activities throughout 2025.

“With our annual theme for 2025, People. Skills. Competitiveness, we emphasize the central role of employees in a company’s success, as their skills form the foundation of strong, competitive, and innovative businesses,” said Sebastian Metz, General Manager of AHK Romania, in his opening speech at the New Year’s Reception.

Attending the event both as President of the Senate and as “a supporter of strong economic and cultural relations between Romania and Germany,” Ilie Bolojan highlighted the essential role of German investments in Romania’s economic development. “Germany is our main trading partner and one of the largest foreign investors in our country,” Bolojan stated.

The Senate President emphasized the need for continued cooperation in areas such as education, research, and digitalization to better integrate young people into the labor market. He also pledged the Government’s and Parliament’s support for dual education projects modeled after the successful initiative of the Romanian-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (AHK Romania).
“Romania has proven in recent years that it can take rapid steps toward modernization when there is a clear vision and efficient administration. Whether we talk about infrastructure, education, or economic development, success comes where well-thought-out decisions are made and implemented without delays. This is the working model that must be expanded nationwide: focus on concrete solutions, eliminate bureaucratic blockages, and create an environment where investments can thrive,” concluded Ilie Bolojan.

The idea of change was further reinforced by the Minister of Education, Prof. Dr. Daniel David, who stressed the importance of training the future workforce on solid foundations. He invited the private sector to partner with the ministry in reforming the educational system, both in higher and pre-university education, especially dual education.
“Our children must be exposed to the best specialists, whom they can meet through the internship opportunities you provide. We have opened universities to incorporate companies’ criteria and needs into master’s and postgraduate programs, ensuring we train the human resources you require. In dual education, mutual responsibility is even greater: we design the curriculum together, conduct evaluations together, and jointly take responsibility for the outcomes,” explained Daniel David.

Competitiveness is also a crucial factor for the Romanian state, according to Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Tánczos Barna.
“Just as employees in companies must be efficient, those working in the public sector must be equally efficient,” he noted, adding that the state has an obligation to provide high-quality services and reduce costs.
The Minister of Finance pointed out that the budget approved by Parliament the previous day “is a leaner state budget, with spending cuts to improve efficiency, an investment-oriented budget with a record allocation of over 150 billion RON for investments, and a budget for programs supporting businesses.”
He also emphasized that a high-performing economy requires greater workforce involvement in production, and the government is committed to working on this aspect.

The event was also attended by representatives from the Ministry of Labor, Family, Youth, and Social Solidarity and the Ministry of Economy, Digitalization, Entrepreneurship, and Tourism. Ministers Simona Bucura-Oprescu and Bogdan Ivan conveyed their ministries’ messages to the Romanian-German business community.

The theme of competitiveness as a foundation for economic efficiency and overcoming current challenges is reflected in all industries, from food production to energy. In this context, AHK Romania President Andreas Lier stated:
*“We aim to harness the potential of the entire energy sector, especially renewable energy, to improve efficiency. Additionally, we will focus on developing value chains in the food sector. At the same time, challenges such as high labor costs, fiscal predictability, and the trade deficit remain key concerns, as we believe a *competitive economy requires a modern administration.”

Similarly, the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany, Dr. Peer Gebauer, emphasized the importance of the Romania-Germany partnership and the strong collaboration between the two countries, particularly in energy and the expansion of energy infrastructure.
For these transformations to take place, competent people are essential:
“2025 will be a year of transformations. We embrace this motto because we need people, their skills—which will continue to evolve and diversify—innovation, and the willingness to take risks,” said the ambassador.

With over 850 participants, this year’s New Year’s Reception provided guests with an ideal setting for networking, business promotion, and forging new partnerships or business initiatives. In addition to formal speeches and networking, the event also featured musical performances. The Parfenov Duo’s violins and piano added an extra touch of elegance to the business evening.

Held annually at the Palace of Parliament, the AHK Romania New Year’s Reception is a landmark event for Romanian-German business relations in the country, bringing together numerous businesspeople, public administration representatives, professional associations, civil society members, and stakeholders from politics, diplomacy, academia, and the media.

Special thanks to our Premium partners:
BASF, E.ON, Delgaz Grid, DRÄXLMAIER Group, Lidl Romania, PENNY | REWE Romania, Siemens, and Siemens Energy.

Source: AHK Romania