The roundtable discussion, which was organized by the Ukrainian PR-alliance (UPRA), “Buy Ukrainian Products or Who is the Owner of This Country?” took place on the 24th of June, 2009 in the Ukrinform. It was attended by representatives of Ukrainian producers and industry associations. 

The roundtable discussion, which was organized by the Ukrainian PR-alliance (UPRA), “Buy Ukrainian Products or Who is the Owner of This Country?” took place on the 24th of June, 2009 in the Ukrinform. It was attended by representatives of Ukrainian producers and industry associations.

The participants of the roundtable were:

• Nina Ali, the president of UPRA, Director of the PR-office "Diyeslovo".
• Valeriy Kureiko, the Vice-President of UPRA, CEO of the Publicity Creating company.
• Rouslana Plis, director of Iinformational Analytical Center "Publicity".
• Nazar Ali, the director of the Bureau of Marketing Technologies.
• Sergei Bloschanevych, the President of JSC «Obolon».
• Alex Lissitsa, the president of the Ukrainian club of agrarian business (UKAB).
• Maria Mudrenko, the press secretary of the association «UkraAutoProm».
• Olga Shurpach, the director of marketing in Rosava Company.
• Elena Azarova, the head of PR-department in the Arterium Pharmaceutical Corporation .
• Julia Satyrenko, head of marketing communications pharmaceutical corporation «Arterium».
• Michael Grishchenko, the director of the Research Company Retailstudio.

Members indicated as a whole that, during economic crisis, reduction of demand and lack of support from the government, local manufacturers have to reduce production. Representatives of national manufacturers noted that the worsening situation requires action from both – the business sphere, and the government - as it is in all civilized countries, including those that are members of WTO.

The trends of this year are: reinforced attention towards the national market and consumers; activities of national manufacturers and industry associations to protect their interests.

Roundtable participants recognized that the importance of professional government, business and other forms of public relations constantly increases.

However, while public communications with different groups of audience, the services of national PR-agencies are not in demand. At the same time, they can even better understand the needs of local business in order to develop and to realize effective informational campaign, and to achieve the forecasted results.

Nina Ali, the UPRA president and the director of PR-office "Diyeslovo" noted, “New liberal values of open markets, virtual money and of free markets were defeated. The only hope is the natural sector of the economy. Stop games sort of «tranching», «European openness» and «investment appeal». Averyone who produces real wealth on the land should receive preference.
Ukrainian PR-alliance is ready to provide public relations’ services against «suitcases with money», which, unfortunately, today is the embodiment of national interests”.

"Ukrainian producers have to engage in cooperation with national PR-agencies that have technologies, practices, experienced teams of specialists. It is better for Ukrainian producers to choose their Ukrainian PR-agency. This is justified as for marketing, and as for ideology. During last ten years the Ukrainian PR-market became developed qualitatively and quantitatively. This makes it possible for manufacturers during the world crisis receive services of high quality at more favorable prices,” - said the Vice president of UPRA, the CEO of the Publicity Creating Company Valeriy Kureiko.
Rouslana Plis, the head of the Informational and Analytical Center "Publicity" said, “Defending own interests, national producers have resorted to lobbying tool, and this is normal. But it will be more efficient to do so with informational and PR-campaigns aimed at consumers and the general audience. Public opinion and media attention are influential in our society. For national PR-professionals there has to be a wide range of activities in cooperation with national producers and industry associations.”
To summarize the event, all participants agreed with a proposal for further intense cooperation to increase consumer loyalty towards Ukrainian producers.

The Ukrainian PR-Alliance invites all interested parties to dialogue and effective measures for successfull opposition to the crisis, protecting the consumers’ and producers’ rights.