Romania has made progress and would do well to continue on this path, while accession to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) requires better-functioning public authorities and greater efficiency in payments to both the public and private sectors, said Volker Raffel, President of AHK Romania, at an event organised by the association.

'The current objective, accession to the OECD, requires better-functioning public institutions and greater efficiency in payments to both the public and private sectors. The incoming government should implement the necessary reforms,' Raffel said.

According to an AHK Romania statement, the Romanian-German business community's summer event, 'Summer Celebration', brought together more than 650 participants in Bucharest, including business leaders, representatives of civil society and the media, under the motto 'A Summer to Connect. Building Trust for Tomorrow'.

The business community believes that trust is the foundation upon which sustainable partnerships, investment and economic development are built, particularly during periods such as the present one, marked by uncertainty and rapid change. AHK Romania is currently focusing its activities on education, defence and strengthening regional communities.

'Continuity, stability and win-win situations that we, the business community, have together with local administrations at local and regional level are essential. We have built a stable pillar for economic growth at local level. Therefore, we should not focus exclusively on the central level; the core of continuity and stability lies within local and regional communities,' said Sebastian Metz, Chief Executive Officer of AHK Romania.

Germany and Romania share a long history of economic exchange, based on strong socio-political and cultural ties and activities carried out across numerous regions of Romania, noted Angela Ganninger, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Romania.

'Important decisions for this ecosystem are not made only in national capitals and in Brussels. Ideas and initiatives from the business community and civil society must also feed into politics and public administration,' she said.

The traditional charity raffle was also organised during the event. Member companies of AHK donated more than 600 prizes, and the proceeds from ticket sales, amounting to 32,410 lei, were donated to the Romanian Red Cross.

With a tradition spanning more than 20 years, AHK Romania's 'Summer Celebration' brings together the Romanian-German business community each year alongside representatives of public institutions, civil society and the media, helping to strengthen dialogue and partnerships.

AHK Romania is the official representative of the German economy in Romania. Established in 2002, it has more than 700 members and provides companies with an important platform for networking and the exchange of information and experience. Since January 1, 2020, AHK Romania has also hosted the Competence Centre for the Republic of Moldova. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Cristian Anghelache; EN - writing by: Cristina Zaharia)