The coronavirus pandemic caused changes at all levels, and the ability to adapt has always been a measure of survival, which is why it is necessary to act together to mitigate the effects of the crisis and to recover the entire economic activity in the country.
This was announced at the panel discussion "Coronavirus and business - adapting to the new normal" which was organized as part of the "100 largest in Montenegro 2021" project, which was initiated by the BI Consulting company, under the general patronage of NLB Banka Podgorica and with the support of the Chamber of Commerce of Montenegro Above.
The founder of BI Consulting, a provider of business information, Ratko Nikolić, said that adjusting to a new normality in the conditions of a pandemic is a phenomenon of today, which includes a wide range of changes at all levels, which are happening on the fly, at an incredible speed.
"Just as at the individual level we have lifestyle adjustments in order to preserve personal health, so at the company level we have the process of adapting products, services, communication channels, internal and external policies to the new reality, and at the state level - a review of the economic system and optimal economic structure . The ability to adapt has always been a measure of survival, and it seems that this has never been more visible and clear than it is today," said Nikolić.
V. d. Director of the Directorate for Industrial and Regional Development in the Ministry of Economic Development, Renata Milutinović, said that everyone should take responsibility for complying with the measures, which will contribute to the preservation of citizens' health, but also to the recovery of the entire economic activity in the country.
"Given that the Montenegrin economy is largely dependent on tourism and that a lot is expected from this season, we need to work together to provide an adequate response to the pandemic, but also to create a safe zone that tourists will visit with pleasure and without anxiety to visit," Milutinović pointed out.
The vice-president of the Chamber of Commerce of Montenegro, Nina Drakić, said that the Chamber of Commerce continuously presents the challenges faced by the business community to decision-makers.
"In cooperation with state authorities, we are trying to find optimal solutions, in order to maintain liquidity and mitigate the effects of the crisis. The primary goal is to suppress the covid-19 pandemic and reduce the consequences for citizens' health, but certainly also to preserve economic activity as a prerequisite for accelerated economic growth after the end of the pandemic," said Drakić.
The executive director of NLB Bank, Dino Redžepagić, said that the process of digitalization of products and services continued even during the pandemic and that it is the task of the entire society to further promote digitalization, because it not only reduces costs for users of digital channels, but also encourages sustainability and environmental protection. environment due to less use of all resources.
"But this is not just a technical task, this requires a paradigm shift for all of us. I believe that at least half of client visits to bank branches are not necessary, if we all used digital solutions already available everywhere. Therefore, our task is not only digitization, but also explaining and educating citizens to use ATMs, payment cards, mobile banking, computers and smartphones. We hope that the crisis will not last, but we are ready for any scenario", said Redžepagić.
The president of the Board of Directors, Voli Trade, Dragan Bokan, said that Voli feels a drastic increase in the illiquidity of the Montenegrin economy.
"That scares us the most and what it will bring in the fall, in the winter, or next spring, which will be crucial in the survival of the Montenegrin economy. Voli stopped all investment in 2021. The current situation in the Montenegrin economy, where there are no ideas or strategies, is very worrying. It is essential for us in Voli to keep employees and to try not to reduce personal income," said Bokan.
He believes that communication between the Government and relevant ministries with businessmen is key in order to find a strategy to alleviate the problems in the Montenegrin economy.
