The president of the Chamber of Commerce, Nina Drakić, said that Montenegrin businessmen are bearing the heavy burden of the crisis, which has tested the stability of their activities.
"These days we are also witnessing the closure of aluminum production, which plays a significant role in the foreign trade balance," said Drakić at a meeting of businessmen with Prime Minister Zdravko Krivokapić.
She appealed to find a solution in order to preserve that branch of industry and jobs.
She also said that she was concerned about the number of unemployed people on the records of the Employment Service.
Slow collection and illiquidity are still, he says, among the biggest problems of Montenegrin companies.
Conveying the demands of businessmen, she stated that the transition to proportional taxation should be considered once again.
The President of the Tourism and Hospitality Association Board, Ranko Jovović, said that tourism generates a significant number of employees, but faces the problem of finding qualified labor in the season.
He believes that the category of permanent seasonal worker should be introduced.
"An additional effort should be made to ensure that guests come to Montenegro even in the off-season," said Jovović, pointing to insufficient allocations from the budget for the promotion of tourism.
Dragan Bokan from the Trade Association Board said that the largest part of Montenegro's GDP is created in the trade sector.
"That speaks volumes about the importance of this sector, especially in the period of the covid crisis," said Bokan.
He added that in the first two quarters, the trade sector achieved a turnover growth of about 20 percent.
Difficult collection of claims, gray economy are, as he stated, among the problems that weigh on trade.
He said that business is burdened by difficult access to loans, which is why he welcomed the announced establishment of a credit guarantee fund.
He also referred to the legal provision that introduced the non-working Sunday, judging that it is a barrier in business.
He believes that this causes damage to the state, because, as a tourist destination, guests who come on weekends and holidays are prevented from entering the store.
When it comes to the arrival of foreign chains, he said that "we have to turn to ourselves". "We should try to position domestic production even more strongly, and if we leave the shelf to foreign chains, we will have more damage. We are ready to discuss it," said Bokan.
He believes that the implementation of the "Europe Now" program will not be easy for a large number of businessmen and that it should have been introduced gradually.
He believes that it will lead to the closure of a certain number of business entities, and some will look for a way out in the gray economy.
Chairman of the Board of Agriculture Association, Milutin Đuranović, said that there is no economic liberalism in agriculture, that is, it needs budgetary assistance.
Recalling that the contribution of that sector in the GDP is 12 percent, and in the budget about 1,7 percent.
He said that livestock production in the north has dropped significantly and that he is particularly concerned about sheep farming.
"Experience shows that once a farm is closed, it never opens again," he warned.
He suggests to the Government to take serious and urgent measures to stop the decline in livestock production.
He suggested the subsidized import of pregnant heifers.
He is also worried about the announcement of the arrival of international trade chains "that are not interested in domestic production", as the experience of Serbia also shows.
Krivokapić: "Europe now" is the best project in the last 30 years
Prime Minister Zdravko Krivokapić said that the Government is committed to all citizens and all businessmen.
He said that after 30 years it is not easy to get to the position where the first inaccuracy was revealed - the empty cash register was left behind. "It was a difficult and ungrateful beginning".
Nevertheless, as he added, the Government managed to achieve success and economic growth, which was the result of the work of a number of ministries.
"It is not socially responsible action to look only at what the problem is, but the attitude towards all interested parties", he told the businessmen in PKCG.
It is not correct, as he added, to suggest that the Government implements unprofitable projects, and someone else implements profitable ones.
"Is it a socially responsible action to give someone a forest concession for ten euros?" he asked.
The problem of emigration is not only the economy, but also the lack of infrastructure for life in the countryside.
"If you want good for every citizen, don't forget the one you don't see," Krivokapić said.
He also said that investing in sports is not socially responsible action. "This is not the story of Krivokapić or any of you, this is a story for a different Montenegro".
He said that the "Europe Now" program is the best project in 30 years. "It is a citizen's program for decent work."
"He will succeed and there is no transition from eight to four hours of work," said Krivokapić and appealed to the union to fight for all workers.
He said that the new crisis will be a food and water crisis, and that Montenegro has resources that it has not been able to use and that it will be a substitute for imports.
"Since I studied economics, and that was a long time ago, I was always told the correct sum of incorrect data. The time has come for accurate data," said the Prime Minister.
He said that someone must be held accountable for inaccurate data, stating that Monstat showed 50 fewer unemployed.
"Vocational training is a game and a farce, ten come and no one stays. Either they are of poor quality or it's just to show that the state is doing something, without results," said Krivokapić.
"Why are you afraid of competition"
"It doesn't matter who will come to us as competition. Why are you afraid of competition? Let them come, our production will not fail. Give me a choice. Let there be a section in the markets where only domestic products are available. I have not yet heard that any chain has reduced prices, and the prices of oil derivatives were falling. Show me that," said the prime minister.
Krivokapić added that, out of 220 workers, 20 percent have the lowest incomes.
Stijović: The season showed that everything produced can be sold
The Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management, Aleksandar Stijović, said that the concept of liberal economy was poorly implemented, and the result was reduced production.
He believes that there are the greatest opportunities in the production sector and that it is in the interest of agriculture that the tourist season lasts as long as possible.
"This season has shown that everything produced in Montenegro can be sold," said Stijović.
He stated that the problem is illegal production and that it is necessary to react there.
"As for the non-working Sunday, it is a problem when it comes to sales, because it means one day for agricultural producers to market their products," said Stijović.
He added that there are significant areas of state land that can be used for agriculture.
Stijović said that the fact is that agricultural production must be subsidized and that they recognized this through various measures.
He states that the problem is inputs and now they have a problem with the price of bread, because wheat is imported, so it cannot be subsidized.
Milatović: Stable and sustainable public finances
Minister of Economic Development Jakov Milatović said that in this situation and in relation to the current situation, public finances are stable and sustainable.
"More stable and better finances mean that there will be no increase in taxes in the coming period, which will be a good signal for investors," said Milatović.
He said that the Government heard the demands of the economy and created the "Europe Now" program, which also provides tax relief.
He said that the MEK will consider the idea of a "permanent season".
'When it comes to the budget of the NTO, I think that Montenegro has not had a good promotion, the kind it deserves. The problem is the lack of the private sector in the management of the NTO. I think we should discuss this together in the first quarter of next year," he said.
He also announced the possibility of creating an intermediate VAT rate for the tourism and catering sector, which will be discussed at the beginning of next year.
Answering the question about the non-working week, he said that he hopes that a joint solution will be found soon, and one of the solutions is to connect the working week with the tourist season.
"I strongly insist on social dialogue, which was not enough in the previous period".
He said that it is no secret that the German retail chain wants to come to Montenegro and that their plans are to employ a thousand people in the next two or three years.
He believes that there is room in the market for the entry of new players, which will lead to a drop in prices.
"I think the company Voli can position itself as a company that sells domestic products, and we can talk about that."
He said that Montenegro has never had more educated people in the position of Prime Minister and PKCG.
He wished them "calmer waters" in the coming period, reminding them of the turbulence during the election of the PKCG president.
Bojanić: We are here for any kind of cooperation and suggestions
The Minister of Capital Investments, Mladen Bojanić, said that he knows the needs of the economy very well and that, as a businessman, he was always bothered by the inefficiency of public administration.
"We are always here, the door is open to you for any kind of cooperation and suggestions," said Bojanić.
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