In the intricate web of European business relations, few figures embody the value of patience and continuity as clearly as Sebastian Metz, CEO of the German-Romanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (AHK Romania). Having lived in the country for more than thirteen years, Metz describes himself with a smile as “at least a quarter Romanian.” Behind the modest humor lies a profound truth: he has become one of the most credible interpreters between two economies that are learning to grow together.
“After more than a decade here, yes — I can call Romania home,” he told Watt’s Next, the Energynomics podcast hosted by Gabriel Avăcăriței. “I probably know Romania better than Germany — I travel so much through the country, I know many people, I see things firsthand.”
Metz’s journey began in corporate banking at Deutsche Bank, where he developed a taste for precision and structure. Later, studying economics, he discovered a different kind of vocation — not to pursue profit for its own sake, but to connect actors, balance expectations, and build trust. When he arrived in Bucharest in 2012, AHK Romania was already a growing bilateral institution. Under his leadership it has become a major platform for cooperation, uniting more than 700 companies and a team of 25, covering all sectors from agriculture to high-tech energy solutions.
“We are not a profit-maximizing organization, but we still have to be managed like a company — and for that you need a very good team. I’m very proud of that.”
That professional discipline is matched by a deeply human approach. Metz speaks often about his colleagues as partners rather than subordinates, and about bilateral relations not as diplomacy but as community-building. “We’re all sitting in the same boat,” he insists. “Instead of competing for pieces of a cake that isn’t growing, let’s make the cake bigger together.”
This philosophy has guided AHK Romania through turbulent times: the pandemic, supply-chain shocks, shifting tax regimes, and a region reshaped by war and uncertainty. For Metz, the essential ingredient of resilience is continuity — political, administrative, and institutional. “If the government had not remained in place, the effect would have been disastrous — not only for our business community but for the whole country,” he says plainly. Stability, he argues, is the precondition for reform, and reform is the only path toward competitiveness.
His reading of Romania’s economy is pragmatic rather than pessimistic. The country, he says, has a unique industrial heritage: a dense network of universities, transport and energy infrastructure, and skilled people across all regions. It also has a European vocation that must not be lost. “EU membership is Romania’s greatest advantage,” he stresses. “Remaining firmly on the pro-European, pro-Western path is vital.”
After more than a decade in Bucharest, Metz speaks with equal familiarity about energy systems and cultural mindsets. He sees the current debate on the energy transition as an opportunity for Romania to align its strengths with Europe’s transformation. He believes that energy efficiency, digitalization, and modern infrastructure are not abstract goals, but real chances to increase competitiveness.
His optimism is rooted in realism: Romania will only succeed if it learns to link its public investment, industrial policy, and human capital into a coherent strategy. But few people are better positioned to help build that bridge than the German who became a quarter Romanian.
About “WATTs Next”
“WATTs Next” is the new podcast by Energynomics dedicated to energy leaders, designed to provide a clear understanding of the people shaping the industry, their visions for the future and emerging challenges. Its main goal is to go beyond standardized answers and delve into the personal and professional perspectives of the interlocutor.
The interviews are structured in three essential directions:
- Shaping a personal and professional profile, providing an authentic picture of the career path and values of the interviewed leader.
- Analysis of the most current topics, to understand what’s next in the industry, what the implications are for companies and consumers, and what we should prepare for.
- Explanation of some essential concepts, by debunking myths and clarifying complex notions for a wider audience.