Cognos International

🌍 Strengthening Africa’s Biomanufacturing Workforce

At the World Health Summit Regional Meeting 2026 in Nairobi, we were honoured to officially hand over a comprehensive set of curricula for biomanufacturing workforce development to Dr. Mariatou Tala Jallow representing Africa CDC.

Over the past 18 months, we have worked intensively in close collaboration with LUNEX to develop a suite of programmes designed to build critical skills across Africa’s biomanufacturing ecosystem, including:
▪️ M.Sc. in Biomanufacturing
▪️ Biomanufacturing Fellowship Programme
▪️ Fellowship Programme in Vaccine R&D
▪️ Industrial Fellowship Programme
▪️ Short Courses for Vaccine Production
▪️ Training of Trainers Programme

We are proud to contribute to the African Union’s ambition to produce 60% of vaccines locally. Achieving this goal will require an estimated 12,500 skilled professionals, making workforce development a central pillar of this transformation.

This is where Regional Capability and Capacity Networks (RCCNs) play a crucial role. These regionally anchored networks bring together academic institutions, research organisations, manufacturers, and regulatory authorities to build the next generation of talent for a resilient and sustainable biomanufacturing industry.

A sincere thank you to all partners and experts who contributed their insights and guidance throughout this process: Africa CDC and GIZ for their continuous coordination and support, as well as the RCCN Secretariats for ensuring strong alignment of the curricula with regional needs: Institut Pasteur du Maroc, The Egyptian Authority for Unified Procurement "UPA", Syllabi, Regional Centre of Excellence for Vaccines, Immunization and Health Supply Chain Management, CSIR Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, and Institut Pasteur de Dakar.

Special thanks to Chiluba Mwila, Frauke Göbel, Santosh Ramchuran, Ghita Amalou, Basma Ismael, Nyandwi Jean Baptiste, and Domefafa Atiso.

This project was supported by BACKUP Health, a global programme of Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH, commissioned by the Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung (BMZ).



Photo credit: Andre Hugo

🚀 Kick-off of an Intensive Business Exchange Programme in Hamburg and Nuremberg!

Today marks the start of three exciting weeks within Partnering in Business with Germany. Entrepreneurs from Georgia, Ukraine, and Moldova have come together in Hamburg with a clear goal:
👉 to grow their businesses internationally and build new partnerships.

From day one, the group has demonstrated strong entrepreneurial spirit, innovation, and practical experience. Alongside expert input on food safety certifications and market entry, one element clearly takes center stage:
🤝 direct exchange among entrepreneurs and with key stakeholders on the ground.

We sincerely thank the official guests from Germany and the partner countries for warmly welcoming the delegation and supporting the opening of the programme. Their presence, engagement, and insightful contributions helped create a strong and inspiring start, highlighting the importance of international cooperation and trust-based partnerships.

A strong start to an exciting programme – we look forward to the weeks ahead and many inspiring conversations to come.

Partnering in Business with Germany is an initiative to promote foreign trade and investment by the Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Energie, implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH (GIZ).

🤝 Connect with Central Asia: Business Matchmaking Opportunities Await!
📅 30.06. – 17.07.2025

Today we officially kicked off the preparation phase for an exciting delegation visit! From June 30 to July 17, we will be welcoming 19 entrepreneurs and executives from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, and Turkmenistan to Hamburg and Lower Saxony as part of the Partnering in Business with Germany programme.

The delegates represent a wide range of industries, including:
🔋 Energy
♻️ Waste Management
👕 Textile Industry
🚚 Logistics
🏥 Healthcare
🏗️ Construction
🖨️ Printing
📦 Packaging

Our programme highlights include:
🤝 Meetings with German companies and potential business partners
🏭 Visits to leading industrial companies across Germany
💡 Insights into innovative technologies and production processes
🌍 Networking and international experience exchange

Are you interested in meeting new potential business partners from Central Asia? Feel free to reach out! Send a direct message to our programme manager Timo Tekhaus for further information.

Partnering in Business with Germany is an instrument to promote foreign trade and investment by , implemented by .

🎄✨ Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! ✨🎄

As the year draws to a close, we would like to express our gratitude to all our amazing partners and customers around the world. Your trust and cooperation inspire us every day, and we are proud to be on this journey with you.

We look forward to continuing our trusted partnership with you as we move forward into 2025!

At the round table for skilled workers initiated by the UDWV Usbekisch-Deutscher Wirtschaftsverband at the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce last week, we discussed the possibilities of immigration of skilled workers from Central Asia.

Our employees Timo Tekhaus and Alexander Pfaffenrot presented our projects in vocational training in healthcare professions in various countries. Together with our sister company Ludwig Fresenius Schulen, we follow an approach that aims to improve the vocational education in the partner countries and secure talents for the German labour market.

The president of Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan, Davron Vakhabov emphasised that Uzbekistan, with a population of almost 40 million and an average age of 28.5 years, has traditionally had a strong labour migration to other countries and actively promotes this. With a population growth of around one million per year and 800,000 school leavers, there is a large potential of interested young people. A migration agreement was recently signed with Germany that should further open up this potential for the local labour market.

We thank UDWV and Hamburg Chamber of Commerce for the organisation of this insightful and prodcutive meeting! We see a big potential in a cooperation with Uzbekistan.

🎄✨ Happy First Advent from Cognos International! ✨🎄

As the festive season begins, we want to extend our gratitude to all our amazing partners and clients across the globe. Your trust and collaboration inspire us every day, and we’re proud to share this journey with you.

This Advent season, let’s celebrate the joy of connection and the spirit of togetherness that transcends borders. May the coming weeks bring you moments of peace, reflection, and excitement!

🕯️ Wishing you and your loved ones a bright, warm, and joyous season ahead. We can’t wait to start new projects and cooperations next year!

Today, a delegation from our partner Suzhou Vocational Health College visited us at the campus of Fresenius University of Applied Sciences in Hamburg.

We look forward to expanding our cooperation in the coming years. This year's train-the-trainer programme in Germany for lecturers from the Suzhou Vocational Health College was indeed a good start.

We are looking forard to welcoming the next generation of international business leaders!

For over 25 years, we have been proud to serve as a business development center within the Partnering in Business with Germany programme. During this time, we’ve had the privilege of training international entrepreneurs and managers, fostering connections with German businesses, and collaborating with approximately 1,800 business leaders from 18 countries across 90 programmes. Now, we’re thrilled to announce that we’ve signed the contract for the next two years, allowing us to continue this impactful work!

While the programme has evolved over the years, one thing has remained constant: its focus on interpersonal exchange. At its core, this initiative enables meaningful exchanges between business leaders from Germany and partner countries. Even in today’s digital age, where so much can be done online, personal interaction continues to build trust and confidence—an essential foundation for successful partnerships.

The programme creates connections on various levels. The shared experience of an intensive programme in Germany fosters a strong network among participants—many of whom continue to meet and collaborate years later. The exchange between tutors and participants, spanning several months, is another unique feature of the programme. Hearing from our alumni about new ventures and career milestones always inspires us and reinforces the value of this work.

We are immensely proud to have been a part of this programme for so long, and we look forward to many more meaningful exchanges in the years ahead!

Partnering in Business with Germany is an instrument of the Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Klimaschutz - BMWK (German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action) to promote foreign trade and investment, implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH (GIZ).

Our two employees, Timo Tekhaus and Alexander Pfaffenrot, were in Turkmenistan this week to talk to public and private companies about possible training programmes.

We have been active in Turkmenistan for many years through the Partnering in Business with Germany. This programme is an instrument of the German Government to promote foreign trade and investment and is implemented by GIZ.

This trip revolved around a visit to – the International Conference on Construction, Industry and Energy of Turkmenistan. The conference gave us the opportunity to make contact with state-owned companies from the energy sector and discuss further training for management, specialists and technicians. We also learned a lot about current developments and new projects in the country during the conference.

We also met with various private companies in the training and events sector with whom we could potentially work in partnership. The discussions with companies such as MCT Agency. Business Development Solutions, Ish Nokady and Harman consulting were very positive, and we will follow up with the aim of implementing joint training measures in Turkmenistan.

A conversation with the German ambassador, His Excellency Bernd Heinze, confirmed that there are business opportunities for German companies in Turkmenistan. The business culture that he reported from Turkmenistan does not seem all that foreign to German companies: it takes a relatively long time for a collaboration to develop, but when it does, it is very stable and long-term.

Overall, we draw a positive conclusion from this trip. Turkmenistan certainly offers opportunities for cooperation, but it also takes some endurance to take advantage of these opportunities.

A week full of insights and new connections with a business delegation from and !

The second week of our programme kicked-off with a visit to GLOBUS Markthallen in Hamburg-Lurup, where Kai Haeder, Managing Director, guided us through the organization of one of the most modern supermarkets in Germany. After lunch, we visited Wernsing Feinkost GmbH, a company with rich tradition, specializing in the production of potato products, antipasti, spreads, desserts, dressings, dips, and sauces.

At REWE Group logistics center in Stelle, Sascha Schneider offered us refreshing insights, especially into their bustling deep-freeze warehouse operations. With perfect sunny weather and fresh northern air, we headed towards P. H. Petersen Saatzucht Lundsgaard GmbH, where Matz Petersen and Michaela Schlathölter shared their passion and dedication to seed breeding, giving us an in-depth look into their detailed processes.

We made a quick stop by the Baltic Sea for some team-building activities before heading to the highlight of the week: GEA Westfalia Group. Heinrich Weweler introduced us to the fascinating world of separators and centrifuges, which are used in a wide range of industries. A visit to the company's museum allowed us to dive into the rich history of this innovative enterprise.

Back in the classroom, Oxana Gusárova focussed her training to support participants with change management processes through her engaging session. Finally, we learned a lot about food standards and certifications at Lebensmittelinstitut KIN e.V., where Marc Heyer delivered a compelling presentation.

The professional and personal development of the participants is clearly visible. The entire group returns home full of new impressions, ideas, and collaborations. They have become the new ambassadors of the programme, proving that the exchange between Germany, Ukraine, and Moldova is thriving and holds even more potential for the future.

Partnering in Business with Germany is an instrument of the Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Klimaschutz - BMWK (German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action) to promote foreign trade and investment, implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH (GIZ).

🏃‍♂️🎉 What an experience at the Business Run in Cologne! 🎉🏃‍♀️

With lots of fun and team spirit, we conquered the course together, and the highlight: crossing the finish line inside RheinEnergieSTADION 🏟️ – pure goosebumps! 💪 The atmosphere was amazing, and we’re proud of our team for delivering top performance both on the track and in business.

A big thank you to everyone who made this day unforgettable! 🎖️