One of the very first photos of a wood processing factory workers
source: gornjiibar-rozaje.webs.com Fig. 28
4.1. General Overview
On July 26, 1948, the wood processing factory “Gornji Ibar (GIR)” in Rozaje was registered in the register of state-owned companies. This date can be marked as a milestone in the development and economic progress of the municipality. With the registration of wood processing factory, the period of industrialization of the city begins, which will significantly affect, and even radically change all segments of life of the citizens of Rozaje.
factory produced semi-finished products and provided raw materials, which were further processed and finalized in other industrial centers throughout the country. However, over time, there is a development and expansion of production, so the factory begins production of final wood products. (gornjiibar-rozaje.webs.com) At the peak of its develpment and production (1981), the factory employed nearly 2,500 workers, had its own bank, controlled catering sector of the city, as well as the complete industrial production of all small and medium enterprises. The products of this company were exported to all countries of the former Yugoslavia, but also to other European countries such as Italy and Greece.
The industrialization of cities began only after the formation of the Federal Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY), after the Second World War. A war-torn, very poor state, it sought to establish a new political and economic order. Yugoslavia based its economy on production and industry. Accordingly, in every city, and even in small communities like Rozaje, several factories operated, while production was based on locally available resources.
The significance of the factory for the development of the city is immeasurable, and the effects of its activities are visible even today, 15 years after the shutdown of production. The wood production factory has thus successfully financed the construction of infrastructure projects, housing units, public institutions, as well as the arrangement and decoration of public city surfaces. With all this in mind, it is not surprising that the local population emotionally and very nostalgically cultivates memories of the once largest producer of wood products in Yugoslavia.
New economic and social opportunities will also affect the development of infrastructure, increased investment in education and culture, as well as new urban and spatial changes that are accompanied by the modernization of society and cities. Small towns are experiencing a renaissance, and there are large migrations from rural areas to the city which lead to the shrinkage of the local villages. The forestry in Rozaje foresaw the felling of forests, the processing of forest and wood-industrial products and, finaly, their sale. At the very beginning of its operation, the 39
