Addressing a conference on timber and wood-processing industry in the resort of Opatija, Tolusic claimed that the industry had been neglected in the past five years.
The new legislation on forests and timber is being prepared with the aim of putting this sector in order and preventing timber smuggling, he said.
A two-year ban on the export of oak timber went into force this past Saturday, the minister noted.
Revenues of 13 billion kuna are registered annually in Croatia's timber and wood processing industry, and the exports stand at HRK 9.3 billion, with timber accounting for 68% of the value and furniture for 32%.
The head of the Croatian timber and wood processing cluster, Dinko Prodan, said that the wood-processing sector and furniture manufacturing accounted for 3.6% of the country's GDP, and that its share in exports was 10.4%.