The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine is working to restore international companies to Ukraine, including H&M, IKEA, and Inditex. H&M announced its return to the Ukrainian market this month. The agency is also expecting good news from IKEA in the near future.
“This week, our diplomats in Stockholm received final confirmation that the Ukrainian H&M stores that were closed due to Russia’s full-scale invasion will start reopening in November this year,” Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba told The Village.
According to him, active preparations are underway to open the stores.
H&M does not comment on which stores will be opened first. Earlier, the company reported that it plans to open five of the six stores in shopping centers in Kyiv and Lviv.
As for the products that will be presented in Ukraine after the reopening, the brand representatives say that they are working to offer Ukrainians the same shopping experience as they had before the temporary closure of the stores.
“Women’s, men’s and children’s clothing will be available in all stores (that will reopen – ed.), and the H&M Move sportswear line and H&M Home line will be available in select stores. The clothes that were in the stores during the closure will also be part of the commercial offer, in addition to the new collection,” the company said.
On the return of other brands, including IKEA
Kuleba noted that since May 2022, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been systematically negotiating with brands to return to Ukraine. In addition to H&M, diplomats are in constant contact with IKEA and Inditex (Zara, Bershka, Massimo Dutti, Stradivarius, Pull&Bear).
“The work on the return of IKEA is actively continuing, and I expect that there will be good news in this area soon,” the Ukrainian Foreign Minister said.
Kuleba noted that the return of international companies strengthens the Ukrainian economy, fills the Ukrainian budget and creates new jobs. In addition, the return of such well-known brands restores a sense of normalcy to Ukrainians and signals to other players that it is safe to operate in Ukraine.
