IT, Energy and Manufacturing: key sectors of interest for the Bavarian companies seeking partnerships in Romania

A delegation of around 20 business and political representatives from Bavaria, led by State Secretary Tobias Gotthardt of the Bavarian Ministry for Economic Affairs, Regional Development and Energy, is visiting Romania (Bucharest and Iași) and the Republic of Moldova (Chișinău) from May 14 to 17.

The purpose of this business trip is to facilitate connections and explore partnership opportunities with local stakeholders, while gaining insights into the Romanian business landscape—particularly in the areas of artificial intelligence, digitalization, energy, start-ups, manufacturing and innovation.

“Bavarian-Romanian relations are not limited to industrial cooperation in manufacturing; they increasingly focus on IT, research and development and energy. The defense industry also offers promising opportunities for collaboration. We hope to see more partnerships initiated between Bavarian and Romanian companies, grounded in trust and a long-term vision,” said Sebastian Metz, General Manager of AHK Romania

During the official opening of the business trip in Bucharest, State Secretary Tobias Gotthardt emphasized that trade between Romania and Bavaria has been a success story over the past 20 years. “Trade volume has increased fivefold, reaching eight billion euros—and this is not the end, but just the beginning,” he stated. He also highlighted the strong interest from Bavarian companies in this mission to Romania and the Republic of Moldova, many of which operate in fields such as smart industry, smart solutions and environmental technologies.

“We are all part of the European Union, of the European idea, that helps us have a strong common market from which benefit us all”, he stated.

Gotthardt noted that the visit to Chișinău marks the first official trip of a Bavarian delegation to the Republic of Moldova. “This is a premiere: for the first time, a Bavarian business delegation is visiting the Republic of Moldova. This is a strong signal and a promise: we want more economic exchange; we are strengthening Moldova’s role in Europe. And we are bringing the energy needed to make it happen. There is much to discover here and many opportunities to work together. I am convinced: Bavaria and Moldova – this can become a strong match,” the State Secretary explained.

Romanian Minister of Energy, Sebastian Burduja, who was also present at the official opening, expressed his readiness to support the business community and noted that Romania’s energy sector has undergone a true “revolution” over the past two years: “We’ve attracted over 14 billion euros in grant money from the Modernisation Fund and from the Recovery and Resilience Facility. It’s a massive sum that covers everything from grid modernisation, green energy production and energy storage. It also covers hydrogen production and I know it’s a topic of interest for Bavaria”.

The companies received a renewed invitation from Ștefan-Radu Oprea, Head of the Prime Minister’s Office, to develop business ties in both Romania and Bavaria: “Romania has strong capabilities in cybersecurity and the IT sector. In addition, we will provide significant support for the defense industry. And if we are to buy European products—why not choose German ones?” he stated. According to him, Romanian entrepreneurs are eager to contribute to the supply chain for the Romanian army and beyond. They are looking to identify reliable partners and develop joint projects.

On this occasion, Chargé d’Affaires Christian Plate, representative of the German Embassy in Romania, emphasized that the strong business ties between Germany and Romania are rooted in the common values the two countries share. He added that these successful relations are also a result of Romania’s European integration, highlighting the importance of the country continuing on its pro-European path.

During the visit, the delegation met with several key Romanian officials, including Minister of Economy Bogdan-Gruia Ivan, Minister of Energy Sebastian Burduja and the Mayor of Iași, Mihai Chirica. They also held business meetings with German and Romanian companies based in Bucharest and Iași. In Chișinău, the delegation is scheduled to meet with Minister of Energy and Minister of Economy and Digitalization, Dorin Junghietu and Dorina Nistor, respectively. The program also includes visits to the Technical University of Chișinău and to several local businesses, including a winery.

AHK Romania through its General Director is the representative of the state of Bavaria in Romania. In this capacity, we organize every year various events to give all Bavarian companies in Romania the opportunity to get to know each other and exchange experiences.

Theme of the Year 2025: People. Skills. Competitiveness.

With this annual theme we emphasize the central role of employees in a company’s success. Employees and their skills are the backbone of any organization and play a significant role in ensuring competitiveness. Qualified and valuable staff form the foundation for innovation, productivity and growth.
By investing in their skills and continuous development, companies can create a dynamic work environment that fosters creativity and engagement. As such, AHK member companies are focusing on strategic talent management and employee well-being, not only to enhance business performance but also to promote a sustainable and competitive business environment in both Romania and Germany.

About the Romanian-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (AHK Romania)

AHK Romania is the official representative of the German economy. Established in 2002, AHK has over 670 member companies and offers them a vital platform for networking, information exchange and experience sharing. Through its services and the events AHK Romania actively supports German companies in entering the Romanian market, while also serving as a partner for Romanian companies interested in the German market.
Since January 1, 2020, the Competence Center for the Republic of Moldova has also been operating within AHK Romania. The goal is to strengthen business relations between companies from Romania, the Republic of Moldova and Germany, and to contribute significantly to the economic development of the Republic of Moldova.