At the 20th Slovenian Economic Summit, Jože Colarič, President of the Management Board and CEO of Krka d.d., received the Golden Order of Merit from the President of Slovenia, Dr Nataša Pirc Musar. The award recognizes Colarič’s contributions to the Slovenian economy and pharmaceutical industry, as well as his philanthropic activities and efforts to promote Slovenia internationally.
During her keynote speech at the event themed “Be the Changes,” President Pirc Musar stated: “When asked which principles should form the foundation of Slovenia’s economic and social development, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia responds with the Manifesto of Eight Commitments for Slovenia by 2035. These commitments are: freedom and responsibility, cooperation, work as a core value, respect for creativity and knowledge, entrepreneurship, the state as a community, trust, courage and perseverance. /…/ Today’s recipient of the high state decoration — the Golden Order of Merit — Mr Jože Colarič is an example of a person who embodies these eight commitments and serves as an inspiration to us all.”
In his acceptance remarks, Colarič said: “I was born not far from the Krka River. I have now been employed for more than 43 years at Krka, the pharmaceutical company from Novo mesto, which is among the leading generic pharmaceutical companies in the world. I am fully aware that I have received this decoration thanks to Krka and my work at Krka. This decoration is not only a personal recognition for me, but also a tribute to the work, expertise and dedication of all my colleagues at Krka. For more than four decades, we have shared a vision of providing accessible, safe and high-quality treatments that improve health and the quality of life of people around the world.”
Krka has expanded from a small laboratory with nine employees into a global company with over 13,000 staff worldwide. The company offers more than 1,000 products aimed at treating common diseases and produces nearly 20 billion tablets and capsules annually. Its marketing teams operate across Europe and are building presence in other regions including Asia, Africa, and North America.
Under Colarič’s leadership since 2004, Krka has seen significant growth in revenue—from €470 million in 2004 to €1.9 billion in 2024—and profits increased from €65 million to €356 million during that period. The workforce grew from under 5,000 to over 13,000 employees while annual production volumes rose substantially.
The justification for awarding Colarič noted his focus on investment in research and young talent; more than 3,000 young researchers have received Krka Prizes so far. He initiated new academic programs such as a master’s degree in industrial pharmacy at University of Ljubljana’s Faculty of Pharmacy. He has also supported cultural and sports initiatives at various levels throughout Slovenia.
The statement concluded: “With this state decoration, the Republic of Slovenia expresses its respect, recognition and deep gratitude to Jože Colarič for his outstanding contributions to the economy and to the development of the pharmaceutical industry — contributions reflected above all in the continuous and remarkable growth of Krka, the pharmaceutical company that, thanks in part to his leadership, has become one of Slovenia’s most successful and globally recognised companies.”
