Agricultural Economics

Agricultural Economics

Key Factors for Targeted Investment in the Wood and Paper Industries of Guilan Province

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors
Sareh Hosseini 1
Atousa Pourrahmat Cherudeh 2
1 Assistant Professor, Department of Forest Science and Engineering, Faculty of Natural Resources,University of Guilan, Sowmeh Sara,Guilan, Iran
2 BS student of Forest Science and Engineering, Faculty of Natural Resources, Mohaghegh Ardabili University, Ardabil, Iran.
10.22034/iaes.2025.2077471.2156
Abstract
The wood and paper industries are considered among the important sectors of the country, playing a significant role in economic and social development. Decision-making regarding investment in this industry requires identifying and prioritizing the criteria and indicators that influence its success and sustainability. This study aimed to determine the key investment indicators for the wood and paper industries in Guilan province by applying the Entropy and WASPAS multi-criteria decision-making models. The statistical population of the study consisted of 20 experts from the Chuka wood and paper factory, who evaluated the factors affecting investment in the wood and paper industries using a questionnaire comprising six criteria and 37 indicators. The results of the Entropy technique showed that among the criteria, technical knowledge, technology, and human resources and economic and financial criteria carried the highest weights. Additionally, the prioritization of investment criteria and indicators in the wood and paper industries of Guilan province using the WASPAS model revealed that technical knowledge, technology, and human resources, economic and financial, and raw materials and products were identified as the most important investment priorities, respectively. Key indicators associated with each criterion, including the energy indicator under technical knowledge, technology, and human resources; the profitability indicator under economic and financial; and the final product indicator under raw materials and products, were identified as the most significant factors influencing investment in the wood and paper industries of Guilan province. The findings of this study can serve as a strategic tool for decision-makers, investors, and policymakers to promote the sustainable development of the wood and paper industries.
Keywords
Investment
Wood and Paper Industries
Entropy
WASPAS
Guilan
Subjects
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