Prime Minister Duško Marković said today at a meeting with representatives of the foreign business community in Montenegro that the economic policy measures of the 41st Government over the past year have produced exceptional results on the economic and development level, while he emphasized that they were achieved in a specific political environment that was not favorable The Government, which was marked by destruction and the intention to compromise every positive policy and result of the Government, was announced today by the Government of Montenegro.
Addressing the Council of Foreign Investors, Marković said that the Government has built immunity to such a political environment and achieved impressive results that were registered by credible international institutions and organizations, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the European Commission, which particularly pleases the Government and gives it an additional incentive to continue.
"The government has built immunity to such a political environment and achieved impressive results that were registered by credible international institutions and organizations, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the European Commission, which makes the government especially happy and gives it an additional incentive to continue. Despite the challenges, the European economy is recovering with with a growth projection of 2,3 percent this year and that the Western Balkans region is recording economic growth at an estimated 2,6 percent. The expected real growth of the Montenegrin economy is significantly higher than planned," said the Prime Minister, adding that the planned growth was 2,7 percent. and that in the first six months it had a growth of 4,2 percent, that in the second quarter the growth was an imposing 5,1 percent - which is one of the highest rates in Europe - and that the annual growth is projected at 4 percent.
Marković pointed out that growth is especially influenced by the excellent tourist season, which is better than the record one from 1987, both in terms of the number of tourists and financial effects.
"In 2017, Montenegro achieved one of its most important foreign policy priorities - membership in NATO," said Marković, adding that NATO membership in a short time provided unprecedented new opportunities for the growth of the Montenegrin economy and new employment, which confirms the correctness Montenegrin politics that saw membership in NATO not only as a matter of security but also of economy and development.
The Prime Minister informed the Council of Foreign Investors about the results of fiscal consolidation.
"Parallel with these measures, we continued working on our policies in the area of structural reforms," said Marković, recalling the social policy measures at the beginning of the Government's mandate.
"Today, at the end of 2017, we have a more credible and sustainable social policy and a policy of fairer distribution of social funds," said the Prime Minister.
The Prime Minister informed the Council of Foreign Investors about the ongoing development projects, emphasizing that the Government is particularly focused on the development of the Northern region.
Speaking about plans for the future, the Prime Minister said that in 2018 there will be no new fiscal consolidation measures, and that in the dialogue with interested parties, including the Council of Foreign Investors, the possibilities of reducing the tax burden on labor will be explored.
"The key pillars of dynamizing economic growth in the coming period are: strengthening macroeconomic stability (fiscal and financial) and increasing competitiveness. Therefore, in the period until 2020, we will continue with the full implementation of the fiscal consolidation measures contained in the Fiscal Strategy, which are already reflected in to the Bill on the Budget for 2018. Our goal is to reduce the budget deficit by implementing these reforms and enter the budget surplus already in 2020, in order to provide the preconditions for reducing the public debt from 2020 and refinancing part of its due principal in 2019 and 2020," said Marković.
At the end of his introductory speech, he listed the specific reforms that the Government plans to implement in order to further strengthen the business environment and increase investment and employment: tax reform, which, as he said, will not mean new burdens for the economy, but on the contrary, a possible reduction in the tax burden on wages ; reforms aimed at combating the informal economy and strengthening fiscal discipline; full implementation of the Law on Spatial Planning and Building Construction as one of the more radical reform measures this year; the reform of the concession policy by adopting a new law on concessions and a law on public-private partnership; the reform of the public procurement system where some basic interventions have already produced very positive results; public administration reform with a focus on further increasing the efficiency of state administration as a service for the economy and citizens; increasing the efficiency of cadastre work and further strengthening the efficiency of the entire administration; continuation of reforms in healthcare and in the education system.
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