English - Convention on Biological Diversity

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COUNTRY STUDY FOR BIODIVERSITY OF THE REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA
blooms of Blue-green algae (Anabaena planctonica, Aphanizomenon flos-aquae,
Microcistis aeruginosa).
5.4. Industry
5.4.1. Current status and economic importance of the sector
In terms of its contribution to the Macedonian GDP, industry still occupies the
leading position in the Macedonian economy, despite the fact that, from the beginning of
the process of transition, industry’s average share has been declining. According to the
new classification system of activities and sectors, light manufacturing is particularly
noteworthy in this context. It is interesting that, during the last years of the past decade,
industry contributed about 18% to the Macedonian GDP (18.9% in 1997, 18.1% in 1998,
and 17.6% in 1999 – according to the Statistical Yearbook of the Republic of Macedonia
2001, State Statistical Office, Skopje, p. 314-315.). Capital expenditures in industry also
tend to maintain rather stable levels compared with total investments in the Macedonian
economy as a whole. The percent share was 39.4% in 1997, 40.9% in 1998, and 35% in
1999 (Ibid., p. 396 – refers to social [worker-owned], cooperative, mixed and Stateowned
sectors). This provides evidence that, despite the problems faced by industry, its
contribution to the Macedonian economy has remained relatively stable. Moreover,
during last several years, modest signs of a gradual recovery from the transitional
recession have been noted (e.g., the basic indices of production in industry). For
example, in 1996, the basic index of production compared with 1990 (arbitrarily defined
as 100) was only 49; however, in 2000 the index was 53 (Ibid., p. 485).
Some of the current problems faced by industry in Macedonia include: a
disproportionate share by certain industries (traditional and raw materials related
branches, which are characterised by low productivity, low levels of capital reserves,
low revenues and exports and inadequate domestic raw material resources), lagging
technical knowledge and technologies, a low level of modernisation and a high
incidence of age-related equipment failure. These factors result in low productivity and
over-employment, insufficient utilisation of facilities and poor export capability.
In reference to the existing industrial structure (i.e., the shares individual types of
industries control among the industry as a whole - Figure 4), it can be concluded that
several changes have occurred over the course of the last several years. In essence,
production of raw materials and semi-finished products is still dominant (around onethird);
however, over time, the shares of the tobacco industry; construction materials
industry; chemical industry and the generation, transmission and distribution of energy
have increased. The majority of other industrial sectors have declined, including
nonferrous ore mining, the production of oil derivatives, the manufacture of metal
products, the manufacture of transportation equipment, the electric and mechanical
industries, production of finished wood products, textile and leather production, the food
products industry etc.
5.4.2. Changes in the sector over time
In the early 1990s, with the independence of the Republic of Macedonia, the process
of industry ownership restructuring was initiated. Unfortunately, at the same time
Macedonia encountered drastically different economic conditions than were previously
the case. At the beginning of the period of restructuring, many traditional markets in
former Yugoslavia were lost. This was followed by the problems of economic and
political blockades against the country. Those unfavourable conditions were further