June 24, 2009 at the agency "Ukrinform" was held a roundtable on "Buy Ukrainian or Who owns this country?" Which was attended by representatives of Ukrainian producers and industry associations. The event was organized by the Ukrainian PR-Alliance (UPRA).

Round table participants:

• Nina Ali, President UPRA, director of PR-bureau “Dieslovo”.
• Valery Kureyko, Vice President UPRA, CEO «Publicity Creating».
• Ruslana Plis, head of information-analytical center «Publicity».
• Nazar Ali, director of the Marketing Technologies Bureau.
• Sergei Bloschanevych, Chairman of Closed Joint Stock Company “Obolon”.
• Alex Lissitsa, president of the Ukrainian club of agrarian business.
• Maria Mudrenko, a spokesman of the association "Ukrautoprom”.
• Olga Shurpach, marketing director of  “Rosava”.
• Elena Azarova, Head of Public Relations in Pharmaceutical Corporation “Arterium”.
• Julia Satirenko, Head of Marketing Communications in Pharmaceutical Corporation Arterium.
• Michael Grishchenko, the director of research firm “Retailstudio”.

Participants focused on the fact that during the economic crisis, decline of purchasing power and lack of government support, domestic producers are forced to cut production.

Representatives of national producers also agreed that the deterioration of the situation requires immediate intervention from the business itself and by the state, as it happens in all civilized countries, including those that are WTO members.

Among the trends this year - the increased attention to the internal market and consumer, activation of local producers and industry associations in the sphere of protecting their own interests.

The roundtable participants agreed that today significantly increased the role of professional communication between the government, producers, consumers and other community groups.

Unfortunately, the construction of such ties doesn’t use resources of domestic PR-agencies, communication and consulting companies in the field of public relations. But they are most able to clearly understand the needs of national business, develop and implement a large-scale awareness programs and achieve forecasted results.

Nina Ali, President UPRA, director of PR-bureau “Dieslovo”: "The neo-liberal values of open market, virtual money and free competition, suffered a crushing defeat. The only hope - the real economy. Stop playing into "tranches", "European openess" and "investment attractiveness". All those who produce real wealth in this land, are eligible to receive preference. Ukrainian PR-alliance is ready to oppose the force of public opinion against the forces of "cases with the money, which, unfortunately, today is the embodiment of national interests."

Vice-President UPRA, CEO of Strategic Communications Publicity Creating Valery Kureyko said: "The Ukrainian producers should more actively engage the national PR-agencies, which have technology, expertise, highly skilled teams of professionals. It is more profitable for Ukrainian businesses to choose their own, Ukrainian PR-agency – it is justified in terms of marketing, and ideologically. Ukrainian PR market in ten years has changed and evolved qualitatively and quantitatively. This gives manufacturers the opportunity during the global crisis to obtain quality services at competitive prices, both within the country and beyond its borders."

Ruslana Plis, head of information-analytical center “Publicity”: “Defending our interests, national manufacturers are using the tools of lobbying, and that's fine. But it would be better if accompanied by PR-information campaigns aimed at consumers and the general population. Public opinion and media attention already have some weight in our society. Ukrainian PR-specialists can find open field of activities in collaboration with national manufacturers and industry associations.”

Christina Gutsalova, PR-director of the Marketing Technologies Bureau, noted that today the system of protection of domestic producers needs to use different PR-technologies. It is necessary to work with a wide audience - ranging from ordinary Ukrainian citizen who needs to be shown the advantage of domestic products, and ending with the member countries of WTO. Today the formation of new rules and approaches to policy of protectionism around the world, and Ukraine can not remain aloof from these processes - in our country the problem of preservation of national production is particularly acute.

Summarizing the event, all participants accepted the proposal for further cooperation on ways to increase customer loyalty to the Ukrainian product.

Ukrainian PR-Alliance invites all interested parties to dialogue and action in order to deal successfully with the crisis and protect the rights of Ukrainian consumers and Ukrainian manufacturers.