At the Croatian Chamber of Economy, the right to use the Croatian Quality and Original Croatian marks for domestic products for the years 2008 and 2009 was ceremoniously awarded. The Croatian Quality mark was awarded to 16 companies, while seven received the Original Croatian mark.
The President of HGK, Nadan Vidošević, stated that the use of these marks has gained široku primjenu argumentirajući da tvrtke u oglašavanju posebno navode te znakove. He reminded that over the past ten years, HGK has changed slogans, from ‘Buy Croatian’ to ‘Buy Quality’ and finally back to ‘Buy Croatian’.- We did this because it is very important to maintain the level of potrošnje. Given that we have already entered a negative cycle due to its decline, it is important that we buy domestic products – said Vidošević. According to him, the lack of the state’s role in the economy is comical because it must encourage all structures of society to engage in the economy.
– We will not return 38 billion dollars by talking on the phone. This will only collect more money from VAT, which will again be directed only to consumption. The crisis will pass, but the essential problem remains, which is that we do not have a developed real sector. And to solve the problem, we must have a product, and that is a competitive product – said Vidošević.
However, he warned that this is not enough, as product competitiveness is not a matter of companies, which is a misconception, but someone else must be, as he said, serious. Vidošević believes that without a regulated pension and health system, education, legal system, and other parts of the social sector, it is impossible to ensure space for the economy and its competitiveness.
And the state is here to guide us and can help with its administrative measures, but it can also hinder the economy, and we need to see what is more important to us. He cited shipbuilding as a very important sector that must be supported, which will return by engaging other economic sectors. One example of involvement is the granting of the right to use these marks, which have their value in the world. Vidošević warned that today exporters are the most endangered because the policy is structured in such a way that they have very unfavorable conditions for export. Another problem is the very unfavorable environment, which is also in recession.
– You must be the heroes of today just as our unarmed fighters were heroes in the Homeland War. You must sell Croatian products where no one else sells them. Do not falter, affirm the need for knowledge. Without you, we have no possibilities; with you, we can do a lot – said Vidošević to the businesspeople. Ruđer Friganović, director of the HGK Industry Sector, stated that the marks were awarded based on the expert opinions of technical committees.
– What is least visible here is important, and that is that top experts guided companies to create a quality and original product, and I can say that this was indeed the intention when we introduced these marks – said Friganović. Those present were very satisfied with the granting of the right to use these marks, and Zoran Kuga from Ghetaldus, a recipient of the Croatian Quality mark, said that the mark will certainly open new markets for him, while Jakov Lovrić, the owner of the Mel company, as a recipient of the Original Croatian mark, said that it is a confirmation of his previous work. (Edis Felić)
