At today's opening of the 9th Croatian Exporters' Convention, JGL received the "Zlatni ključ" award in the category Best Exporter to the Russian Federation in 2013. Sponsored by the Government of the Republic of Croatia, an expert committee led by the Croatian Exporters' Association awarded prizes, and JGL was nominated alongside companies Ericsson Nikola Tesla and Belupo. Aleksandar Belavić, Director of the CIS Region, accepted the "Zlatni ključ" award on behalf of the company.
Starting operations on Russia's market in 1998 was a key strategic decision of the company, considering it is a vast, rich market of extraordinary potential and growth. JGL today holds a leading position in the region with products such as Aqua Maris and Dramina, there are about 220 employees in 32 Russian cities, and there was a HRK 395 million revenue from export to Russia in the last year alone. Compared to 2012, this represents a growth of as much as 27%.
Total revenue of JGL in 2013 went up with the increase rate of 11% and amounted to HRK 685 million, of which HRK 510 million was generated on the foreign markets. Export reached a staggering 77% in the structure of total revenue, and was mostly generated on the key markets for the company in the CIS region. Those markets are represented by Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan, where JGL is active by our own operations, and the company works through representatives in Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Moldova, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan and Mongolia. There are plans to open a representative office and start with our own operations in Belarus in August 2014.
JGL received the award for the best exporter to the Russian Federation in 2008 and 2010, and this market undoubtedly represents a vast, inexhaustible potential with significant space for growth and development, and the expansion of a high export position.