The Association of Wood, Printing, and Publishing Industry includes companies engaged in the following sectors:

-       Wood processing, wood and cork products (excluding furniture).

-       Manufacture of straw and wicker products.

-       Furniture manufacturing and various other products.

-       Forestry and forest resource utilization.

-       Manufacture of paper and paper products.

-       Printing and reproduction of recorded media.

-       Publishing activities.

More than 100 companies operate in these sectors and are active members of the Association of Wood, Printing, and Publishing Industry.

On 24 January 2020, the Constitutive Session of the Association of Wood, Printing, and Publishing Industry was held at the Economic Chamber of Macedonia. During the session, in addition to defining the operational activities, the Rules on the Organization and Operation of the Association were unanimously adopted.

-       Addressing issues related to improving operations and resolving ongoing challenges in the industry.

-       Reconciling conflicting and diverse interests within the sector while considering the overall economic interests.

-       Adopting conclusions and proposing measures that serve the common interests of members, provided they comply with legal regulations and good business practices.

-       Reviewing proposed laws and regulations, providing opinions and recommendations on matters of shared interest, and initiating new legislation or amendments to existing regulations.

-       Initiating and fostering cooperation with other associations within the Chamber, as well as engaging in international collaboration in line with the Chamber’s programs and general acts.

-       Enhancing the business climate in the country by encouraging the implementation of EU regulations and standards, as well as promoting continuous functional education and knowledge innovation among professionals in the industry.

-       Promoting the Chamber as a mandatory and neutral platform for business consultations on all economic matters.

At the session of the Association of Wood, Printing, and Publishing Industry, held on 17 January 2025, Dragi Miloshevski (ADKiro D. Dandaro – Bitola) was elected as the Association's President for the next five-year period.

The following were elected as Vice Presidents of the Association:

• Vlatko Tasev, Mebel Vi DOOEL, Vinica
• Vladimir Hiljadnikov, FS Shtampa Hil DOOEL, Shtip

For the 2025-2030 mandate period, the following representative was elected to the Assembly of the Economic Chamber of Macedonia:

• Toni Zlateski, 93De-Ni Kompani DOOEL, Prilep

Rules on the Organization and Operation of the Association

Paper and Pulp, Printing and Publishing Industries in the Republic of Macedonia has achieved a high level of development which is recognized in the opportunity for high quality production of all kinds of paper and printing products. Greater development is noticed currently in packaging production.

Production of paper, pulp and paper products share in the overall industrial production is 1,12 percent while in printing and publishing the share is 3,12 percent. Both processing sectors employ over 1380 workers which in the overall number of employees in the processing industry participate with 2,6 percent.

Production of paper, pulp and paper products in 2008 notes decreasing by 5,2 percent compared to the previous year (index 94,8), while in printing and publishing sector, compared to last year drop (index 88), in 2008 is noticed a growth of 59,4 percent.

Production is mostly directed to domestic market needs, the export of paper and paper products indicates a drop of 11,7 percent if compared to the previous year. But Macedonia is further import dependent, in the raw materials segment, the import of pulp and paper waste after several years` growth, shows decreasing, increased import by 25 percent in 2008 compared to the previous year is noticed in paper and paper products.

Regarding the economic entities structure, the printing sector is composed of above 90 percent of small companies, and only 10 percent are medium sized companies, which indicate to their flexibility and adjustability to the market changes.

In the last few years there is increasing interest of foreign companies for investment in the paper industry (as the case of Komuna –Skopje with above 50 percent of the capital of Belische Group) as well in printing sector, for speeding up of modernization of these processing sectors.

Several years dynamic development in this sector creates a favorable ambient for investment in production of printing paper, which is still not produced in the Republic of Macedonia.

Opportunity for investment aimed at increasing of export exists in printing sector in the segment of modernizing and introduction of new technologies.