CCI President Uwe Goebel (l.) and CCI Managing Director Marco Graf
In the CCI district of Osnabrück – Emsland – Grafschaft Bentheim, approximately 65,000 businesses in industry, trade, and services secure more than 440,000 jobs and training positions.
Family-owned medium-sized enterprises in particular have played a significant role in our region’s above-average growth in recent years. Over the past 20 years, employment in our district has increased by nearly half, placing us third among the 79 CCI regions nationwide.
The four sub-regions of our CCI district now also rank highly in national comparisons. For instance, Osnabrück ranks eighth nationwide in terms of „quality of life“ in the latest Prognos city ranking, making it the top city in northern Germany. The western part of our CCI district excels in renewable energy expansion, with Emsland leading the country in wind energy production. Additionally, Germany’s largest hydrogen electrolyzer is currently under construction in Lingen, Emsland, making this area and the neighboring Grafschaft Bentheim district the hub of Germany’s new core hydrogen network. Here, the largest energy distribution center is being developed to channel wind power from the north to industries in the south.
In this dynamic environment, companies are actively investing in the future – and therefore in the next generation of skilled workers. With around 140 different training professions and the diverse academic opportunities at our two institutions of higher learning, the University of Osnabrück and Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences, hosting nearly 27,000 students, this region offers excellent conditions for a successful start to a career.
Our CCI district is not only a major industrial hub with focuses on mechanical engineering, as well as the food, paper, plastics, and furniture industries. Our region is also a key center for manufacturers of agricultural machinery used worldwide. Tourism is a prominent feature, with over five million overnight stays per year. Along the well-developed road, waterway, and rail networks – including ICE connections in north-south and east-west directions – and the Münster/Osnabrück Airport (FMO), logistics companies, trade, and services have found a robust foundation here.
Our CCI has been fostering the positive development of our region for over 150 years. We are the primary contact point for communication between businesses, politics, and administration. Yet, our core mission is even more essential: education and training through recognized certifications in skilled professions. Each year, we support around 10,000 apprentices, working closely with 2,500 training companies and volunteer examiners to uphold the high value of dual education. This impact wouldn’t be possible without volunteer involvement: 70 business leaders participate in our CCI General Assembly, with nearly 300 more involved in our regional and sector committees. In addition, more than 2,700 active business leaders participate in our 30+ CCI networks, and over 2,500 examiners volunteer to oversee the implementation of vocational training and advanced examinations. All of them contribute to our region’s success story on a volunteer basis.
With our economic monograph, we offer insights into our business location. Discover the potential of our region and enjoy an engaging read.
