Why is Serbia exporting wood planks instead of chairs? – Unused potential of wood industry

Local self-governments all over Serbia have recognized their own wood industry potential and see it as a basis for the economic growth and the growth of the rate of employment. The adoption of the Action Plan of Serbia as a country which exports furniture, which is expected soon, will greatly benefit municipalities, estimated the mayor of Tutin, Semnsudin Kucevic, one of the authors of the plan.

– Our municipality, where 10 large companies and 1,000 small tradesmen operate, alone produces around 30,000 cubic meters of lumber a year – Kucevic points out. – If we process this further and get a final product, we might increase our earning five to eight times.

In 2015, Serbia exported 145,000 cubic meters of lumber worth EUR 45.3 million. If this were, for example, used to make chairs, which would amount to five million pieces, their total export value might reach EUR 256 million, around six times more than the export of planks and boards. In addition to that, at least 5,000 new jobs would be created.

– The wood industry of Serbia has great potential, as it has local resources of raw material to base the production on, but this is not used to the extent it should be – it was assessed at the Chamber of Commerce of Serbia at the presentation of the Action Plan for the assistance in the export in the wood processing sector in 46 municipalities throughout Serbia.

At the moment, only 42 carpenters and 161 technicians are being educated in Serbia, so it's important to improve the education in that sector.

- Starting with the next school year, a new course will be introduced into the curriculum – furniture manufacture operator, and two technical schools, one in Uzice, the other in Subotica, will be carrying out this program – says Jasa Ercic, the director of the sector of industry and agriculture at the CCIS.

Privredna komora Srbije

Opština Tutin

chair manufacture

lumber

furniture export

Semsudin Kucevic

Jasa Ercic

CCIS

wood industry