On January 19, 2021, Volodymyr Patis, President of the Ukrainian Furniture Association, Oksana Donska, Member of the UAFM Board, Head of the FUBE Cluster Platform and Exhibition, Valentyna Hraban, UAFM Executive Director, held an online meeting with Ambassador of Ukraine to Kuwait Oleksandr Balanutsa.

The Parties discussed possible ways of cooperation to facilitate the export of Ukrainian furniture to Kuwait

Ambassador Oleksandr Balanutsa shared the successful experience of holding online briefings organized by the Council of Exporters and Investors (under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs) and Ukrainian diplomatic missions abroad to support Ukrainian exports.

Oleksandr Balanutsa reported that Kuwait annually imports furniture from around the world worth about 450 million USD (sofas, beds, chairs, tables, kitchen and office furniture, medical furniture, etc.). And although Ukrainian furniture is already available in Kuwait stores, there is significant potential for growth. For example, in 2020, Ukrainian furniture was exported to Kuwait in the amount of 123 thousand USD, while in 2019 exports amounted to only 40 thousand USD.

Volodymyr Patis reported an annual steady increase in Ukrainian furniture exports to other countries by about 14% since 2015. Despite coronavirus restrictions, in 2020 furniture exports increased by 8.4%. A significant part of export indicators is formed due to the members of UAFM, the number of which in January 2021 was 257 furniture companies. UAFM members export to 116 countries and form 60% of the furniture industry in Ukraine.

UAFM together with the Embassy agreed to cooperate to increase the export of Ukrainian furniture to Kuwait

To this end, B2B online meetings with potential buyers of the country will be organized, as well as invitations will be distributed among Kuwaiti importers to the FUBE International Exhibition, which will take place in Ukraine offline and online from April 7 to 9, 2021. The exhibition should demonstrate to foreign guests the advantages and opportunities of the Ukrainian furniture market, promote the joint brand FURNITURE OF UKRAINE, and provide Ukrainian furniture manufacturers with long-term contracts.