Local Industry Workers Day in Ukraine Date in the current year: June 2, 2024

The term “local industry” originated in the Soviet Union to refer to enterprises of local importance. It comprised small and medium-sized enterprises that produced consumer goods and services primarily for local consumption. The main task of local industry was to satisfy the demand for fast-moving consumer goods.

Local industry as an independent sector of Ukrainian economy was created in the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic in 1934. It comprised small factories, plants, industrial enterprises, firms, associations, scientific research institutions, and other organizations subordinate to regional and local executive authorities. Originally owned by the state or cooperatives, they were privatized shortly after the proclamation of Ukrainian independence in 1991.

Ukrainian local industry has a multi-sector structure and comprises metal-working, woodworking, mechanical engineering, textile, chemical, food industry, and other enterprises. Tax revenues from local industry enterprises go directly to regional budgets.

Ukrainian local industry enterprises produce common hardware and locks, pottery, household chemicals, furniture, wood and wicker containers, clothes and shoes, sports equipment, gardening tools, musical instruments, toys and games for children, gifts and souvenirs, food, and many other kinds of consumer goods.

The role of local industry in the production of traditional handicrafts deserves a special mention. Government support of local industry helps to preserve traditional Ukrainian arts and crafts, including the famous Petrykivka painting, Opishnya pottery, Krolevets rushnyks (embroidered cloths), Easter egg decoration, vyshyvankas (Ukrainian embroidered shirts), and more.

Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma signed a decree “On the Day of Local Industry Workers” on August 20, 2002. The holiday was established to highlight the significant contribution of local industry workers to the development of the Ukrainian economy.

According to Leonid Kuchma, local industry workers contribute to the consistent introduction of efficient management methods, increasing production volumes, ensuring the high quality of goods and services, filling the market with consumer goods, increasing the number of jobs, reviving traditional crafts, and strengthening the country’s economic potential.