A press conference was told that the campaign aims to set up special shelves in leading Croatian retail chains stocked with Ukrainian products to bring attention to products developed and produced in Ukraine.
The campaign is also of a humanitarian nature because Biosphere Corporation will donate HRK 0.50 from each article sold to UNICEF Ukraine to provide support to children and their families affected by the war in Ukraine.
Biosphere's Director Andriy Zdesenko said that the campaign was launched in Croatia in the hopes of expanding it to other EU countries.
"It is important for Biosphere Corporation not only to strengthen its exports and support production in Ukraine but also to lead a social mission that will have a significant impact in supporting the Ukrainian people. That is why we want to establish cooperation with UNICEF Ukraine and donate a share of each product sold to help the children in Ukraine," Zdensenko said.
The campaign is being conducted with the support of the Ukrainian Embassy in Croatia. Ukrainian Ambassador Vasyl Kyrylych said it was important to maintain production during the war and this project was one way to do so.
"I am very happy that retail chains in Croatia have recognised this important campaign and will become pioneers in supporting Ukrainian companies and the Ukrainian people," Kyryliych said and added that this is yet another evidence of solidarity and friendly support to Ukraine in these extremely difficult times.
Suzana Knežević from the Croatian Chamber of Commerce (HGK) said that trade between Croatia and Ukraine prior to the war had increased from year to year, adding that there was great potential to strengthen economic cooperation. This could be seen at the last economic forum held in Kyiv in December when more than 200 Croatian and Ukrainian companies attended.
In 2021, trade between the two countries was valued at about $127 million, which is an increase of 16% compared with 2020 regardless of the COVID crisis.
Knežević added that companies are finding ways to deal with the current situation and that over the past few months more and more Ukrainian companies have been making enquiries through the Croatian Embassy in Ukraine about possible joint projects with Croatian companies and about Ukrainian companies transferring their activities to the Croatian market.