Cognos International

🎄✨ 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! 🎖️

On September 3rd, the Ukrainian Economic Forum took place at the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce. This was an interesting and beneficial event for our company, attended by two of our team members – Adrian Ponomarenko and Alexander Pfaffenrot. The forum featured presentations from representatives of German companies that have started or continued their operations in Ukraine during the war. For our company, this was an excellent opportunity to explore potential intersections in economic development between Germany and other countries.

During the open dialogue, there was also an opportunity to discuss the positive impact of Ukrainian companies and entrepreneurs on the German economy with the Ukrainian Consul, Dr. Iryna Tybinka, the Consulate's spokesperson, Alexander Blümel and other interesting people.
Despite the economic challenges faced by small and medium-sized businesses, we remain committed to offering our support. The delegation of Ukrainian-Moldovan entrepreneurs that we will be hosting next week in Hamburg serves as further confirmation of this commitment.

We are grateful to everyone for the opportunity to exchange valuable information!

Hashtag Hashtag Hashtag

Last week, we visited the Karl Kolle Foundation to discuss the final report for the 3rd round of our STEM empowerment workshops on "Green Energy."
The response was fantastic, and all participating schools now have their own experiment kits, enabling them to offer the workshop to many more students in the future.
Girls are still underrepresented in STEM fields and often feel less engaged in STEM projects compared to boys. The Karl Kolle Foundation once again funded this workshop, organized by COGNOS International. A big thank you to the Karl Kolle Foundation for supporting this wonderful sustainable project!

More details on the Karl Kolle Website: https://www.karl-kolle-stiftung.de/nachricht/mehr-mint-fuer-mehr-maedchen

Today we had the honour of welcoming a group of 18 teachers from Suzhou Vocational Health College to our Cologne campus as part of their 10-day train-the-trainer programme.

After a warm introduction by Prof. Dr. Matthias Afting, Prof Dr Zickermann presented the Department of Health at Fresenius University of Applied Sciences in Cologne. Our guests were particularly impressed by the guided tour of the practice rooms and the activity laboratory organised by the head of the Nutrition & Fitness in Prevention programme.

The visit offered us the opportunity for a lively and exciting professional exchange. We are delighted with the inspiring discussions and wish our Chinese colleagues a successful and instructive stay in Germany. A big thank you to everyone who made this productive day possible!

Today, Prof. Dr. Thomas Wolf and Ms. Birgit Döringer from Hochschule Fresenius and our employee Timo Tekhaus welcomed a group of teachers with 18 lecturers from Suzhou Vocational Health College.
The group of teachers will complete a training program in Idstein and Cologne over the next 10 days. We are delighted that this format can be continued again after the Covid pandemic.

We are looking forward to this programme and hopefully many more to come!

🎉 Amazing Feedback from Our Digital Skills Training for Female Agripreneurs! 🌱💻

Our recent sessions in Lagos and Ibadan were a huge success! Here’s what participants shared:
💡 Engaging and Relevant: The training topics and practical exercises were highly relevant and engaging, with the majority finding the sessions informative and engaging.
📚 High-Quality Materials: Participants praised the accessible, high-quality training materials.
🚀 Confidence Boost: Over 80% feel confident in applying their new skills to their agribusinesses.
Thank you to our dedicated participants, trainer Augustine Kangni, and AFOS-Stiftung! ✨

We are proud to have successfully completed the 3rd round of our STEM project for schools, which we run for the Karl Kolle Foundation. 8 enthusiastic schools and more than 120 girls took part in this programme. Many thanks to the Karl Kolle Foundation for this great project and to the Frauenprojektlabor der FH Dortmund (Women's Project Lab) for their fantastic support. Together we are now inspiring girls for STEM subjects for the 3rd year in a row 🎇 and we hope for many more years to come!

🎉 Successful Completion of Digital Skills Training for Female Agripreneurs in Nigeria

We are thrilled to announce the successful completion of our digital skills training program in Lagos and Ibadan! Our dedicated female agripreneurs showed remarkable enthusiasm and commitment throughout the sessions.

The training covered essential topics like market access with digital tools, digital marketing strategies, website development, graphic design tools, and useful farming and web applications. 🚀

Highlights from the training sessions:
💡 Active Participation: Lively discussions and hands-on activities enriched the learning experience.
🎉 Enthusiastic Feedback: Participants are eager to apply their new skills and knowledge.
🏅 Certificates and Prizes: Celebrating the hard work and dedication of all participants.

A heartfelt thank you to all the participants for their willingness to learn and grow. Special thanks to Augustine Kangni for her unwavering commitment and deidaction as the trainer. Her expertise was instrumental to the success of these sessions. We also extend our gratitude to AFOS-Stiftung and everyone who played a role in making this training a success.

Stay connected as we continue to support and empower women agripreneurs on their journey towards digital proficiency and business growth! 📈

🚀Kick-Off Training to Enhance Digital Skills for Female Agripreneurs in Nigeria

We're thrilled to announce the launch of our tailored training program in Lagos and Ibadan! After months of careful planning, we have crafted a curriculum specifically designed to empower women agripreneurs, giving them the tools they need to elevate their agricultural businesses.

Our comprehensive program includes:
🌐 Digital Tools Introduction: Helping participants connect with potential customers and expand their reach.
📈 Marketing Techniques: Providing strategies to build and sustain a flourishing business.
📱 Useful Applications: Showcasing apps that can streamline and enhance their agricultural operations.
🤝 Community Building: Creating a supportive network to foster collaboration and mutual support among these inspiring women.

The first training session in Lagos, led by Augustine Kangni, was a great success, with enthusiastic feedback from participants who are excited to embark on this journey with us.

A big thank you to AFOS-Stiftung for their trust and to everyone involved in making this program a reality.

Stay tuned for updates on this promising initiative!

Yesterday, we had the pleasure of welcoming a delegation from Dongying Vocational College to our campus in Germany. This visit marked the beginning of an exciting journey towards collaboration and innovation in education.🤝

Founded in the 1950s, Dongying Vocational College boasts a rich history in chemistry education, much like our own institution.🧪 We introduced each other to our universities and colleges, sharing insights and experiences.

Our comprehensive campus tour included stops at the study lounge, seminar, and practice rooms. We also had the chance to engage with some of our Osteopathy students, who shared their experiences and aspirations.

The highlight of the visit was the signing of a cooperation framework agreement. This agreement paves the way for student and teacher exchanges and "train the trainer" programs, setting the stage for fruitful collaboration. ✍️.

We are excited about the potential projects and opportunities that lie ahead and look forward to a successful partnership with Dongying Vocational College.🌟

Exciting News! ✨

We're thrilled to announce the successful completion of a 2-week program in Hamburg and Munich, Germany, organized in collaboration with the Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft und Klimaschutz and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH under the "Partnering in Business with Germany" initiative. 🤝

Entrepreneurs from Kyrgyzstan had the incredible opportunity to:

🚀 Explore production processes at leading German companies such as MAN Truck & Bus, Volkswagen AG, Sennheiser, and EOS GmbH.
📈 Enhance their skills and competencies in foreign economic activity and business.
🌐 Establish valuable economic contacts and increase their enterprise's competitiveness.

Highlights included:
-Visits to the Chamber of Commerce in Hamburg and participation in the "3rd German-Eurasian SME Day 2024" in Munich.
-Successful negotiations with German companies, paving the way for economic cooperation.
-Entrepreneurship training sessions led by top German experts.
-Attendance at specialized exhibitions and fairs.

Our participants gained firsthand experience in German quality standards, environmental practices, and social responsibility. They also learned how German companies achieve successful continuity in family businesses. 🌱🔄

This program has truly been a game-changer, providing invaluable insights and fostering international business connections. 🌟