Zürcher Nachrichten - Alex Bodi and BlackRock Chief Larry Fink in Berlin: Investment in Germany and Romania?

Bodi recently made clear that his commitment to Germany as a business location remains firm even amid the challenging economic conditions facing the country—a commitment expressed through tangible investment and action as well as words. In Berlin, he met Larry Fink, Chairman and CEO of the US asset manager BlackRock. Issues surrounding cross-border investment—long-term financing, property modernisation and the development of viable business models—formed part of Bodi’s discussions in Berlin, where he sees specific opportunities to build on, including for investment in Romania.

The Romanian businessman used his visit as a guest among major investors to discuss projects linking him and his new partner, a German conglomerate with more than 30 years of successful operations. Their current priorities include a residential property project worth millions of euros in Halle an der Saale, in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt; a planned sales location in Bucharest, Romania, for professional laser technology from ALIX-LASERS, one of the industry’s market leaders; and the development of their own product brands, including ALPHA WHEY.

The summit, https://summit.invest-in-germany.com, was initiated by the German federal government. On 20 October 2026, the main conference day, around 200 German and international business leaders and investors gathered at the European School of Management and Technology. The German government, led by Chancellor Friedrich Merz, primarily sought to attract private capital to modernise the German economy and advance specific investment projects. Invitations were extended exclusively to a who’s who of the private sector’s financial heavyweights.

Like Larry Fink, Alex Bodi shares his perspective as an entrepreneur in conversations with summit participants. For Bodi, Germany represents technical expertise, established business structures and a substantial stock of properties with commercial potential. In Romania, he sees opportunities to open up the market for German products through local advice and dependable service. “A cross-border partnership has to work in day-to-day practice,” Bodi says. “It needs people who understand the respective markets, make decisions and take responsibility for putting them into practice.” Economic experts who held discussions with Larry Fink and Germany’s Federal Minister for Economic Affairs, Katherina Reiche, also observed in this context that the quality of an investment is reflected in how effectively those responsible for it handle difficulties.

In this connection, the editorial team understands that Alexandru Nicolae Bodi said: “Thinking long term means being prepared for different developments. Particularly in the current climate, investing in residential property requires more than simply hoping for future price increases. Investors need to understand what work is required and how the properties can be managed effectively over the years.”

Another business priority is the previously mentioned ALIX-LASERS showroom and sales centre planned for the Romanian capital, Bucharest. Following contract discussions in September this year with Dieter Eitner, Head of Operations at ALIX-LASERS, a centre is scheduled to open in early 2027 where professional clients can explore innovative equipment for aesthetic treatments and receive expert advice. At the summit in Berlin, Bodi cites the project as an example of how German-Romanian cooperation could create additional sales opportunities. For him, the aim is to bring together technology, market knowledge and customer support.

The development of ALPHA WHEY and the BODI energy drink complements these activities, supported by a collaboration formalised by contract with Prof. Dr. Dieter Lazik of the Slow Medicine Research Institute in Potsdam. These projects require different capabilities: while property management and renovation planning are crucial to the residential portfolio, a sales location and new consumer brands depend more heavily on customer service, product quality and demand. Larry Fink and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, whom Bodi also met at Germany’s Invest in Germany Summit, might likewise agree with this emphasis on entrepreneurial focus when considering Germany as a place to do business.

Meanwhile, according to his team, Alex Bodi has been undertaking a comprehensive restructuring of his entire network of business contacts since the beginning of 2025. In doing so, he has drawn clear boundaries: he has categorically and completely excluded a number of former contacts from his business circle, with the involvement of internationally operating law firms such as Kirkland & Ellis, as well as experienced legal specialists Alexander Dodel and Prof. Dr. Stefan Haupt. Bodi is also currently working with Haupt to prepare an exhibition of the legendary Haupt Collection in Romania.

Following his brief stay in Berlin and business negotiations at the city’s luxury Ritz-Carlton hotel concerning a FinTech product involving VISA, MASTERCARD and Alex Bodi, Bodi hurried from central Berlin yesterday, 21 October, to the General Aviation Terminal (GAT) at Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER). A Citation XLS Gen2 private jet, coordinated by ScandicFly’s Flight Operations team, was waiting to take him first to Barcelona and then to Madrid-Torrejón, as his daughter was celebrating her birthday.

I.Hansen