The Zagreb company RU-Usluge, specialized in Croatian-Russian economic cooperation, is organizing an international conference “The Entry of the Croatian Economy into the Market of the Russian Federation” on April 8 in Zagreb, aimed at clarifying the conditions and increasing opportunities for Croatian companies to do business in the Russian market.
Announcing this conference at today’s press conference, the director of RU-Usluge, Nadežda Baranovski, emphasized that now is the right time for the return and strengthening of Croatian companies’ operations in Russia. Explaining this by this year’s exit of Russia from recession, Baranovski pointed out that Croatian companies, with the quality of their products, have a great chance to start doing business in this large market, especially in Moscow. She announced that directors from the Interregional Marketing Center Moscow will also attend the conference to explain to Croatian companies how they can more easily and favorably place their products in the Russian market, where they can receive all assistance (organizational, translation, administrative, and other) from RU-Usluge.
Identifying the biggest problems from the Croatian side as the lack of funds for Croatian companies to open a representative office or office in Russia, as well as their unwillingness to present in Russian, Baranovski stated that they offer all assistance in this area. So far, about 50 Croatian companies have registered for next week’s conference, and more are expected before the conference, including those that have already had meetings with partners in Moscow in cooperation with RU-Usluge. Baranovski highlights Chromos from Samobor, which has already arranged cooperation with nine Russian companies in paint production, as well as Ghetaldus, Anamarija Kava, and Varteks, who are preparing for such meetings. There is also interest from Borovo, which, like Varteks, used to perform very well in that market. Russians, Baranovski says, still remember brands from Croatia that have disappeared from that market in the last 15 to 20 years, and today they are mostly looking for food products, footwear, and even wines (which should be cheaper due to competitiveness), as well as construction materials, furniture, textiles, and tourism. (H)
