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In the first post-World-War-II years, Strumica was a city of undeveloped economy, no industry, underdeveloped agriculture, livestock breeding, and craftsmanship. The stagnation in the development continued during the first decade after the war. Then followed years of economic reform and workers' self management. Since 1965, there is a rapid economic and cultural growth and evident rise of the standard of living of the population.

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Agriculture

The Strumica Valley, where more than two-thirds of the population deals with agriculture, is among the most fertile in Macedonia. Besides the cereals and vines, one of the oldest agricultural crops is tobacco, mostly grown in the hilly parts of the region. The Strumica tobacco, primarily the oriental varieties, is highly rated in the world, while its processing and fermentation is made in one of the oldest working organizations in the city - 'Strumica Tabak'.

At one time, the well-known silkworm was produced in the Strumica region. But it is among the agricultural crops that were dominant on the Strumica fields thirty years ago and today are completely lost or quite insignificantly grown. Among these also are the cotton (the Strumica "white gold"), sunflower, poppy, rice, sesame, etc.

The vegetable production has become the leading agricultural branch after the construction of the artificial reservoirs 'Turija' and 'Vodoca' and the irrigation systems. The Strumica peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, and watermelons, are renowned for their quality. Between 200,000 and 300,000 tons of different vegetable products and industrial vegetables are produced annually, of which a part is sold at the cosnumers' markets and the rest is used by the processing plants that produce tomato puree, ajvar, and other canned vegetable products. Moreover, greenhouses and land under plastic foil help produce early vegetables, such as tomatoes, cucumbers, and hot peppers, as well as watermelons and flowers, during the winter and early spring months. Thus, this early produce is sold on the market earlier than customary.

The Strumica Valley is also among the greatest producers of grapes in Macedonia. On an area of around 1,000 hectares, 10,000 tons of wine and dessert grapes are produced annually. Five to seven million liters of first-class white and red wines and brandy are produced per year in the wine-cellar of 'Strumicko Pole'. One of the products that gives a unique image to the city is the reputed Strumica Mastika, produced in the 'Grozd' plants. The secret of its recipe is jealously kept by the technologists and old masters employed in this factory for alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, vinegar, etc.

Livestock breeding has also been one of the leading economic branches in the Strumica region. The breeding of cattle, poultry, sheep, and goats, supplies the market with sufficient quantities of quality and ecologically healthy food, such as beef, lamb, pork, pasteurized and sour milk, yogurt, cheese, and other dairy products. The Slaughter House, part of 'Mosa Pijade', is one of the most modern ones in Macedonia and has an annual sale of approximately 100,000 lambs on the markets in Macedonia and throughout Europe. Private companies, such as 'Bonevi', 'Joka', and others, also deal with the production of milk and dairy products.

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Industry

Apart from agriculture, industrial branches are being constantly developed in Strumica. For example, the factory for wooden packaging material, 'Josif Sfestarot', produces crates for packaging and transport of the agricultural produce from the area, as well as quality furniture greatly demanded by the home and foreign markets. Other wood-processing enterprises have also started working in the more recent years, among which is 'Studio 2', specialized in interior decoration and manufacturing of custom-made furniture. This industrial branch is most succesfully serviced by the Forest Economy Enterprise 'Belasica', which is the supplier of quality wood for processing from approximately 45,000 hectares of decidious and conifer forests on Mt. Belasica, Ograzden, Elenica, and Plavus.

Every summer and autumn, the abundand Strumica yield fills up the modern equipped silo and milling capacities of the oldest and largest processing companies in southeastern Macedonia, 'Zito Strumica'. The old milling tradition, still implemented in the Strumica region, and the modern technology and science, are fused in the wheat milling plants. The automatized bakery supplies the consumers with several varieties of bread, baked goods, dough, pies, etc. Since the beginning of the transition period in 1991, when Macedonia gained its independence, a number of other milling and bakery plants have started to operate, such as 'Ivo', 'Sofi', 'Biokomerc', 'Polet', and others. One of the enterprises that has been operating successfully for a number of years is the 'Idnina' Pastry Company, which produces baked goods, deserts, nonalcoholic drinks, and confectionary products.

The food industry is also complemented by the development of the meat industry, which is particularly evidend in the past several years. The most distinguished plants for production of meat products are 'Dona-Jugokoop' in the village of Turnovo, as well as 'Kamiprom' and 'Midral' from Strumica. In the village of Raborci, the Inter-Elas factory produces and bottles cooking oil, while in Strumica, 'Infopage' deals with potato processing and potato chips production. 'Ivoprom', from Strumica, is a representative of the chemical/food industry as it produces tartaric, alcoholic, malic, acetic, and citric vinegar, as well as an ecologic collection of liquid and powder detergents for dishwashing, laundry detergents, several types of bleach, antifreeze, and a variety of plastic packing material.

On the basis of the formerly popular cotton production in the area, one of the largest spinning mills in Macedonia, 'Strumicanka', was built in Strumica. Its quality yarn has been present on the home and foreign markets for over three decades. Today, the cotton is primarily imported, due to its disappearance from the Strumica fields. In its best years, the annual capacity of 'Strumicanka', which has 53,000 installed spindels, was over 6,000 tons of yarn. The spinning mill for cotton fabric, 'Jugoteks', with around 30,000 installed spindles and an annual capacity of 3,000 tons of yarn, has also been operating for more than two decades in the Strumica family of primary textile industry.

Ready-made clothing production, represented by the 'Geras Cunev' and 'Edinstvo' factories, also marks constant progress. Once a small sewing workshop, during the past five decades 'Geras Cunev' turned into a modern factory for production of male, female, and children's clothing. Apart from the home market, its products are successfully sold on the foreign markets, especially in Western Europe and the U.S. The 'Edinstvo' Clothing and Yarn Fabric Factory has also grown from a small sewing cooperative into a contemporary clothing plant, specialized in the manufacturing of jackets, windbreakers, denims, and other products, primarily sports-wear. Other factories in this industry include the factory for children's clothing, 'Pirin', of Novo Selo, as well as the clothing factory 'Komi' and the plant for production of women's and children's panty hoses and socks, 'L-D', in Strumica. The actual creators of fashion and transmitters of the world's latest styles are the boutiques 'Jeans Cord', 'Gold', 'Classic', 'Tozo', 'Zonka', 'Amor', 'Mens', 'Elena', etc., as well as the footwear and leather goods stores 'Maxima', 'Moda', and others.

The Strumica regions is rich with minerals, particularly with non-metals, of which feldspar and calcium carbonate are mostly exploited. The capacities of the single mine in the region, 'Ograzden', process approximately 50,000 tons of these greatly demanded and rare ores, which are mostly sold on the foreign markets. The 'Ograzden' non-metals mine has been one of the most successful and leading working organizations in the region and beyond for a couple of decades. Due to the abundance of minerals, a factory for sanitary ceramics was also built in Strumica, Sankeram Makedonija, whose assortment is renowned and demanded on the home and world markets.

In the past few years, the metal processing industry is also experiencing rapid development. Most successful in this field are the enterprises 'Metalopromet' and 'Demik', which produce quality metal haberdasheries, windows and doors, metal framework for the construction industry, etc. The 'Metaloplast' and 'Ivo' plants produce parts and machines for the needs of the other industrial and economic branches. 'Metalopromet', which constantly makes new investments, has also constructed three petrol stations with modern equipment near Kuklis, Turnovo, and between Gabrovo and Kolesino. It also owns the newly constructed hotel Sirius near Kuklis. Three modern petrol stations in Strumica, Novo Selo, and Murtino, are owned by 'Makpertrol', while one at the exit of the city, towards Dabile, is owned by 'Ivo'.

The electronic industry is also on the rise in recent years. The 'Vita El' plant is the first Macedonian producers of color TV sets that has gained the sympathy of the home market. The technology of this electronic industry is based on one of the top world producers and its quality is recognized by the fact that these TV sets are also exported to Bulgaria, Romania, Albania, and Italy. The 'Pandev' Company is concerned with the production and installation of air-conditioners and heating systems and has become a true specialized bureau for interior arrangement of the energy devices in the industrial plants, social facilities, and residential appartments and houses. The 'Elektroinzenering' Company deals with the manufacturing and installation of electrical devices. Since 1937, in the frames of the 'Elektro Makedonija' system, one of the oldest organizations in the region, 'Elektro Strumica', has been operating successfully. On September 21 of that same year, the first electric lamp was lit, which marks the beginning of electrification of the Strumica region. Today, the Strumica region is among those with most dispersed electrical network in Macedonia. In 1986, a small hydro-electric power station was constructed on the Turija Dam, which seasonaly utilizes the water intended for irrigation.

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Banks

The banks operating within the region greatly contribute to the substantial results achieved by the Strumica enterprises. 'Stopanska Banka' - Branch Office Strumica - is the oldest and largest banking institution in the region, which, besides in Strumica, also has its branches on the border crossing in Novo Selo as well as in Valandovo. Since its founding, 'Stopanska Banka' is the greatest creditor of the region's economy and its investments in the construction of private residential buildings and in the development of small economy, are extremely important. It should be noted that this banking institution participated in the financial construction of practically all economic structures in the region, particularly the larger ones. Furthermore, 'Stopanska Banka' financially supports most of the larger ventures in the field of agriculture and livestock breeding, being the most important branches in the Strumica region.

For many years the branch office of 'Makedonska Banka', successor of 'Ljubljanska Banka', has also been operating in the region. Furthermore, the presence of the branch offices of 'Tutunska Banka', 'Uniprokom Banka', 'Mak Banka', 'Kreditna Banka', and 'Balkanska Banka', is extremely important, since they have managed to quickly establish cooperation with the local enterprises, especially in the field of foreign trade and operations.

Since 1959, 'Makedonija' A.D. Insurance and Reinsurance Company - Branch Office Strumica, has also been active in the Strumica region. It performs a wide range of activities related to insurance of people and property, reinsurance and other matters linked with insurance, and with the purpose of economic protection of the insured property on the basis of economic principles and rules, good business customs, business moral and generating profit. In this respect, this company has also contributed immensely to the development of the economy, especially the agricultural and industrial sectors, being mostly affected by the climate and other risks.

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Postal Services

Being one of the fundamental infrastructure systems, the PTT (Post-Telephone-Telegraph) communications, with its constant development trend, has a direct impact over the entire social and economic development of the region and its efficient inclusion in the international economic, scientific, cultural, and other integration processes. The 'Strumica' PTT Communications Basic Organization operates within the frames of the 'Makedonija' PTT Comminications Public Enterprise. It has marked a significant rise, especially after the 1980s, with the construction of the existing PTT building and the rapid increase of the number of telephone connections (from 1,200 to 9,200).

Today, the Strumica region has a developed PTT infrastructure. Appart from the main post office, there are another four post office branches in the city and also about half of the village settlements have their own post office or a post office branch. With around 18,000 telephone connections in the region, of which 12,300 are in the city and the suburbs, two thirds of the families have telephones, or an average of every fifth inhabitant per telephone connection.

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Road Infrastructure

In the past, due to its central location and favorable configuration of the mountain massifs, the Strumica region had always been a crossroad through which a number of traffic arteries passed, connecting the eastern and western as well as the northern and southern parts of the Balkans. Today, the roads Strumica-Radovis-Stip, Strumica-Novo Selo border crossing, Strumica-Valandovo, and Strumica-Berovo, are the most exploited communications.

Recently the need for modernization of the existing road network was initiated, as well as the ideas of a possible railroad connection of the Stip, Gevgelija, and Petric regions, and the construction of an airport in the vicinity of Strumica.

The Strumica Valley is among the regions with the best constructed road infrastructure. There are over 350 km. of roads, of which approximately two-thirds are asphalt. The highway network is 46 km. long, the regional is 90 km., while the rest are local roads connecting the smaller settlements with the main communications.

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Transportation

The developed road infrastructure aids the numerous freight and transportation organizations in their contribution to the successful cooperation between the Strumica enterprises and their domestic and foreign business partners. Among the freight organizations, 'Interglobus', 'Eta', 'Emilija', 'Transped Makedonija', 'Interagent', 'Kosmos', 'Joto', the regional offices of 'Makosped' and 'Transped' from Skopje, and the 'Mlaz' Bogdanci outpost, particularly stand out.

Approximately 15,000 vehicles are registered in the Strumica Municipality, of which over 10,500 are motor cars, 60 are buses, and over 1,800 are trucks, which clearly indicates that the transport companies are quite active. The suitability and registration of all the vehicles, including the regulation of their entire documentation, is the concern of the Drivers' Association and 'Strela' Automobile Association, which offer different maintenance services in their well-equipped repair shops.

Annually, about 437,000 passengers and about 40 million tons of miscellaneous goods are transported from or to the region. The only bus passenger transport organization is 'Strumica Ekspres', while for transport of goods there are several companies, among which are 'Transped Makedonija', the oldest, largest, and most renowned organization, with over 30 modern vehicles of E.U. standards, 'Emilija', 'Interglobus', 'Struma Ekspres', etc. 'Transped Makedonija' also has a terminal of over 17,000 meters squared, one of the most up-to-date structures of the kind in the Balkans. The terminal has 1,000 sq.m. of warehouse facilites under Customs supervision and administrative premises of the same size, accomodating the Customs Service and another thirty freight companies operating in the region. Moreover, the beautiful Motel 'Terminal', of approximately 400 sq.m., is one of the most exemplary catering establishments in the region.

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Trade

In this part of the Balkans, Strumica was renowned for its trade links with the largest trading centers of the time, and it has remained as such to the present day. This is due to the shops, the market stands, the up-to-date equipped stores, boutiques, showrooms, and department stores, that offer a variety of consumer goods of domestic and foreign production. This is undoubtedly the result of Strumica's closeness to the Macedonian-Bulgarian and the Macedonian-Greek border, i.e. the fact that it is situated on the essential crossroads. In the past, the major driving force of trade in the region was 'Jugopromet' Trading Company, one of the largest in Eastern Macedonia. Today, however, the period of transition enabled the founding of hundreds of new trading companies, which managed to the consumers by offering competitive commodities and prices. Some of the enterprises dealing with retail sale and wholesale, as well as import-export, include 'Prvi Partizan' from Turnovo, one of first and most successful in the region and the country with regard to trade of food products, 'Jugokoop' and 'Hit', also from Turnovo, 'Interglobus', 'Eta', 'Istatopromet', 'Struma-Ekspres', 'Trgoprodukt', 'Stevo-Komerc', 'Internacional', 'Inter-Elas', 'Trimaks', 'Pobeda', 'Raznopromet Tren', 'Raznopromet AS', 'Raznopromet BV', 'Agropamuk', etc., from Strumica, 'Evropa Promet' and 'Dobre', from Bosilovo, 'Balkan Promet' from Ilovica, 'Emilija' and 'Brazil' from Kuklis, 'Kolid' from Kolesino, and many others.

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Introduction
Strumica Geography
  · Geo-economic regions
  · Seismology
  · Soil
  · Climate
  · Land
  · Forests
  · Geology
  · Irrigation
Strumica History
  · Ancient Times
  · Medieval Times
  · Ottoman Rule
  · Balkan Wars
  · World Wars
Strumica Culture
  · Traditional Strumica Carnival
  · International Strumica Art Colony
  · The Cultural Center
  · The Institute for Protection of Cultural Monuments and Natural Rarities and Museum
  · The Archive of Macedonia - Extension Service Strumica
Strumica Economy
  · Agriculture
  · Industry
  · Banks
  · Postal Services
  · Road Infrastructure
  · Transportation
  · Trade
 

A view of the Strumica Valley

Tobacco - one of the oldest agricultural crops in the Strumica Valley

Sunflower fields in the Strumica Valley

Quality tomatoes from the Strumica region

Qiality watermelons from the Strumica region

Quality lamb for export from the Strumica Slaughterhouse

The rich forest wealth of the Ograzden Mountain

'Zito Strumica' - milling and baking industry

Confectionary products from 'Idnina'

'Dona-Jugokoop' Turnovo, a representative of the meat industry

'Strumicanka' - one of the first and largest spinning mills in Macedonia

'Geras Cunev' - ready made clothing for export

Boutique 'Djins Kord'

The 'Ograzden' non-metals mine

'Sankeram Makedonija' Strumica

'Metalopromet' - production of metal frameworks

'Makpetrol' gasoline station

'Vita El' TV sets

'Elektrostrumica' - power supply for the region

'Stopanska Banka' branch office Strumica

'Balkanska Banka' branch office Strumica

'Makedonija' Insurance Company - financial security for the economy

The Strumica Post Office

Developed road infrastructure

Vehicles from 'Transped Makedonija' AD Strumica

Vehicles from 'Interglobus'

'Strela' Automotive Association

The Strumica bus station

The 'Transped Makedonija' Terminal

The open-air farmers' market

The 'Jugopromet' shopping center

'Raznopromet' (BV, Tren, and AS)