AHK Romania asks for more gov't flexibility to cut through red tape

 Companies in the AHK Romania community are calling for cooperation and unity between the social, economic and political environment and asking for more flexibility from the government to cut through red tape related to the allocation of funds for companies and investment."It is essential to remain united, to be competitive, to adapt to the current geopolitical context, marked by challenges and continuous transformations. Only through a coherent and proactive approach can we create a favourable climate for the sustainable development of the business community and the consolidation of the economy," AHK Romania General Manager Sebastian Metz told a monthly meeting of the members of the Romanian-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry.In a context in which the geopolitical factor is the one that influences the markets, the ability of companies to act is increasingly limited, and they must understand how to act in markets that are no longer free, according to AHK Romania Chairman Andreas Lier."We are witnessing an economic and geopolitical situation full of challenges, and many of the member companies of AHK Romania are feeling these challenges increasingly more. But together I think we can face them. Romania has good opportunities and prospects in areas such as energy from fossil and renewable sources, agriculture, food, IT, but also large infrastructure investment projects."Romania keeps its attractiveness for investment, said general manager of the E.ON Romania group, Volker Raffel. However, he added that a more predictable market is needed and that "we must use this time for the state and companies to find offers on the energy market, not only for the next semester, but also for the next year.""To me it is very clear: we need to cooperate closely in Europe, to change the way we do business and politics, to adapt, to be flexible and to do this very quickly. See how quickly things are changing globally. Otherwise, Europe, including Romania, will be left behind," said Raffel.At the same time, head of the Romanian Prime Minister's Chancellery Stefan-Radu Oprea said that predictability is being redefined these days, because "we know that there will be a new taxation system, due to the customs duties imposed by other states. We will have to see when, how big they will be and what their impact will be."He added that the price of energy is high for all companies in Europe, but he was confident that from 2027 Romania will have a good, clean energy mix, as well as cheap storage possibilities. "With our oil and gas industry, with all the geography, we can be the best friends of Romanian and German companies. I see a future for business in Romania, as long as Romania is in the European Union," he said.Oprea also said that among the government's priorities are the simplification of red tape for the business environment, maintaining the deficit at 7% this year, reducing public spending and absorbing as much money as possible from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, as it will not be extended.In his turn, honorary advisor to the interim president of Romania, Dragos Anastasiu, signalled that changes are needed in the way business and politics are done in Romania, with the months up to the election defining the direction the country will take in the future. "Everything is changing and a lot of diplomacy is needed, we have to make sure that we are moving in the right direction. The situation is complicated, but when there are crises there are opportunities. Let's stay united, let's be fast, let's act smart, let's adapt. If in two months' time we are on the right track, I will be optimistic, otherwise it will be very difficult," he concluded.The first meeting of AHK Romania members this year on the topic "Economic Outlook and Governance Programme" was attended by 70 representatives of member companies. The next meeting of the members will take place on April 1.AHK Romania is the official representative of the German economy. Founded in 2002, AHK has more than 670 member companies and offers companies an important platform for networking, exchange of information and experiences. Through the services it offers and through the events it organises, AHK Romania actively supports German companies with their entry into the Romanian market and is also a partner of Romanian companies interested in the German market.