The President of the Economic Chamber of North Macedonia, Branko Azeski, together with members of the Chamber’s Management Board, held a working meeting with Konstantinos Nikolaou, Chief Executive Director of Titan Usje, at the company’s production facilities. Following a presentation on the operations of the Titan Group, Azeski noted before the attendees that the visit was taking place at a sensitive moment, as the company is currently facing criticism related to environmental issues. However, as a long-standing member of the Chamber, whose group operates in several countries across the region, Europe, and other continents, and in light of the facts presented to the public, it is clear that an accurate picture can only be achieved through discussion and dialogue among all stakeholders. To this end, the Chamber, as a form of support for its member company and its management, will organize a conference on the topic of the economy and industry. The issue that has been raised in relation to Usje, Azeski said, is highly significant for citizens and for improving the quality of the environment, and that is an undeniable fact. At the same time, Usje is an industrial facility that makes a substantial contribution to the economy through the payment of taxes, various other duties, employee contributions, and support for cooperation with suppliers. This must also be taken into account, as the foundation of a functioning society lies in creating better economic conditions for citizens. The Chamber, Azeski added, also advocates for international monitoring of pollution and of Usje’s operations, and, based on the results, all options for future steps should be considered jointly with the state.

“We need to prove that we have the capacity for survival, for controlling situations, and for integration. I believe we will pass that test, because there is no turning back. Dialogue is necessary in order to overcome problems. That is the only way,” said the President of the Chamber. He also emphasized that this case has finally opened the key issue of balancing environmental protection with industrial development.

As representatives of the business sector, Azeski said, there must be a win-win situation: the state should enable companies to generate profit, but under conditions of maximum environmental protection. The presence of large multinational companies, he noted, guarantees the stability of the state and the system.

“Titan Usje, as part of the Titan Corporation, operates fully in compliance with European and national legislation. We have no objection to open discussion aimed at realistically identifying any problems,” said the CED of Titan Usje, Konstantinos Nikolaou, stressing that the company’s goal is to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

For 70 years, Titan Usje has been part of the community and has actively contributed to its development. Cooperation with the business community is particularly important, as the exchange of experience and knowledge and joint project cooperation create added value both for companies and for society as a whole. Nikolaou emphasized that Titan Usje continuously invests in modernizing its facilities and improving technological processes. The plant is equipped with state-of-the-art technologies that ensure high operational efficiency, consistent product quality, and strict compliance with environmental protection and occupational safety regulations. The company’s operations are subject to continuous 24-hour independent monitoring and it holds an A-integrated environmental permit. In addition, Titan Usje is among the first companies in the country to have fully implemented ESG standards, further confirming its high ambitions regarding environmental performance, community contribution, and modern corporate governance. Titan Usje is part of the Titan Group, which operates across multiple markets in the European Union, the USA, and Africa, and is listed on an international stock exchange. Across all its companies, the best industry practices are applied.

The company’s investments are development-oriented and based on the principles of the green economy. Over the past six years alone, more than €36 million has been invested, of which €4.5 million was directly allocated to modernization and innovations aimed at reducing environmental impact. In the past five years, Titan Usje has invested around €6 million in cutting-edge production technologies, with an additional €3 million planned by 2028. Digitalization, decarbonization, strengthening the production portfolio based on green solutions, and cooperation with all partners remain strategic priorities for Titan Usje in 2026.

Nikolaou also informed that, in line with market demand for cement, the cement plant carries out its regular maintenance during the winter period. This year, one production line was shut down on 20 December, and the second on 16 January. Currently, the company has been completely inactive for about a week, while air pollution levels in Skopje remain roughly the same. This once again demonstrates that the main cause of pollution in Skopje is not the Usje Cement Plant, the Director underlined.

“Safety and health are a priority and a key commitment for us. The carbon content in our products has been reduced to a minimum. This reflects our care for the environment,” Nikolaou emphasized.

Globally, the Titan Group employs more than 6,000 people, while Titan Usje, which contributes over €50 million to the Macedonian economy, provides more than 500 direct and indirect jobs and additionally cooperates with over 3,000 suppliers.

On the occasion of the company’s 70^th anniversary, during the visit to the factory, the President of the Chamber, Branko Azeski, presented CED Konstantinos Nikolaou with a Plaque as recognition for seven decades of successful operations of Titan Usje.