JGL has been awarded ''Zlatni ključ'' by the Croatian Exporters Association in the ''Growing Markets'' category, for the best exporter to the Russian Federation in 2016. The award, given by an expert committee of representatives of the Croatian Exporters Association, CBRD, CCE, CEA, the Croatian Financial Agency, the Ministry of Economy, Entrepreneurship and Crafts, the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, the Croatian Bureau of Statistics, the Croatian Customs Administration, HAMAG-BICRO, and public TV channel HRT, was received by Jasmin Huljaj, mag. pharm., JGL's Chief Executive Officer.
In his acceptance speech, Mr Huljaj remarked that 2016 has been a truly important year for JGL: ''Last year, we continued to move up on the list of the biggest pharmaceutical companies in Russia - we are currently 43rd on this market of nearly 145 million people, alongside the largest global players. Despite all of the challenges we have faced, from the pressure of competition, to the instability of the ruble against the euro, and other geopolitical factors that affect business, we managed to find the strenght for further growth. I would therefore like to thank our employees and business partners who made it possible. On behalf of JGL, I would also like to thank our colleagues, members of the Croatian Exporters Association, and everyone on the expert committee for this award and the recognition of our efforts.''
The JGL Group ended last year with HRK 850 million in total revenue, while the company's net profit amounted to HRK 91 million. Despite difficult market conditions that affected all manufacturers in 2016, JGL maintained good sales results in Russia, and the Aqua Maris and Dramina brands remain the leaders of the nasal saline segment and the area of antiemetics.
A significant step forward and one of the key moves in rearranging portfolios in line with the vision of focusing on ENT and ophthalmic therapeutic areas was the sale of the Russian portfolio of the D-Panthenol brand and Vagilac, Feminal and Folacin products from the female health segment. This represents a step forward in the implementation od JGL's strategy, as well as a stronger orientation towards key therapeutic areas.
The award ceremony was held as part of the 12th Croatian Exporters' Convention, sponsored by the Government of the Republic of Croatia.