International
About us
The Cologne Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IHK Köln) is an institution financed by traders, merchants and private companies; statutory membership and fees enable it to represent the general interests of industry, trade and the service sector.
What we do
The Cologne Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI) offers advice on location, tax and economic problems. For example, it acts as an expert, when it comes to setting up commercial practices or granting public loans. As a company under public law, the CCI executes the tasks entrusted to it on its own responsibility. It liaises with government and public authorities, parliaments and courts. A dialogue that is beneficial for both sides: the state benefits from its economic competence and it strengthens the region's economic power.
The CCI Cologne is actively involved in vocational qualification. It is responsible for training in approximately 175 job profiles and offers advice on all aspects of continuation training. Extensive consultancy, information and mediation round off the range of services.
Founded in 1797, the CCI Cologne is one of the oldest chambers in Germany and its economic region radiates far beyond its own borders. The diversity of sectors ranges from automotive and mechanical engineering to chemicals and biotechnology, insurance and trade, as well as ICT companies and the media. With an export share of 52.2 per cent (2021), the manufacturing sector is the most internationally oriented. As an innovative, research-intensive science location, the CCI district of Cologne is home to a number of higher education institutions. The chamber district includes the cities of Cologne and Leverkusen as well as the districts of Oberberg, Rhein-Berg and Rhein-Erft. About 155.000 companies are members of the chamber.
How we are organized
The Cologne Chamber of Commerce and Industry is a public law corperation. Anyone who is commercially active in the Cologne region automatically becomes a member of it. Exceptions are firms in the skilled trades and agriculture which have their own chambers. The CCI is financed by the membership fees of its member companies.
The supreme body of the CCI Cologne is the General Assembly, the 'parliament of business' whose members are elected every five years by the member companies.
The General Assembly elects the president and nine vice-presidents from among its members. In addition, committees are formed to deal with specific issues such as international business, taxes and law, environment and energy. The General Assembly, president and committees act on an honorary basis.
The permanent staff of the CCI Cologne are managed by an executive director, who is appointed by the General Assembly. Together with the president, the executive director represents the chamber externally. The permanent employees work in departments which are arranged according to fields of reference.