A new beginning for the wooden giant from Semberija

Since 1996, when it was founded, the company MEGA DRVO from Bijeljina has gone from, as they say, a sawmill in a meadow, to one of the largest manufacturers and exporters of solid wood furniture and wooden glued panels in BIH.

When in the early morning of April 9, 2023, the fire engulfed almost 20,000 m² in which the complete furniture production, technical preparation, production of solid panels and one dryer were located, the material damage caused was estimated at more than 7 million euros. The damage caused by the fire to the Ostojić family, which built this company, is hard to imagine.

This kind of attitude and business ethics were equally appreciated by employees and partners: the plant was restored in record time, production resumed at almost full capacity after less than two months, but was never completely interrupted as it took place in the halls of other wood industry companies from the surrounding areas who made their space and equipment available to the people from MEGA DRVA.

“We will never forget the solidarity shown by colleagues from our industry when it was most difficult for us. That help was extremely important to us in the realization of previously contracted jobs and in preserving relations with customers and suppliers,” says Stefan Ostojić.

Stefan has been in the family business since childhood, and he became the executive director of MEGA DRVO in 2017. He says that he learned a lot from everything that happened, first of all regarding the organizational aspect of business. What does it look like to manage the company where he grew up?

“Having the opportunity to spend the precious, formative years of my life in an environment that directly stimulates learning and the acquisition of new skills, and gives insight into decision-making and management processes, as well as numerous obstacles that every business encounters, brought me plenty of benefits and challenges,” says Stefan Ostojić and continues: “I believe that I owe the adoption of life-important values ​​and skills precisely to the fact that, through the ups and downs that characterize every business path, I myself grew through every new challenge that we would face.” overcome every new success we celebrated. Growing up in a family business gave me a much broader perception of the business I manage, a more intense connection with the company’s values ​​and mission, and building a work ethic that lays the foundation for successful management.”

As for the future, Mr. Ostojić believes that a period full of challenges is ahead for MEGA DRVO, as well as the entire wood industry in the region.

“The situation on the market is very unstable, and the recession in the Western European market, where we sell most of our products, has begun to manifest itself more and more prominently in the turnover of all actors in the complex supply chain. We strive to show adaptability in our market performance, as we have done so far, in order to preserve the current volume of production, explains the executive director of this company. For many years, as business on the European Union market requires, we have been the holders of numerous certificates, and in 2025 we are facing the implementation of the new European Union Regulation on products not related to deforestation (EUDR), which will entail the presentation of evidence that the products placed on the EU market have not caused forest degradation.”

The leading people of the company see the key to survival and development in a good organization.

“We have recognized before, especially in light of everything that happened to us, the importance of establishing work discipline and a system of quality company management through the implementation of key standards that will form a solid base for further progress and development.” In this way, we managed to simultaneously build a comprehensive information base that will serve as a primary reference point for all employees, and on the other hand, establish monitoring and evaluation of work, which are the basis for quality management and the growth and development of the company,” explains Mr. Ostojić and adds: “Investing in continuous employee education, an efficient reward system, and a stable communication network that connects all units within the company are just some of the steps in establishing and preserving the key values ​​that we cherish in business.”