Milatović: We are expecting a 30 or 40 percent better season than in 2019

Today, Montenegro is a more democratic and free society that has better foundations for economic development, said the President of Montenegro, Jakov Milatović.

Speaking at the first international conference on economics and business, organized by the Faculty of Economics, he said that this year we are expecting a record tourist season, Mediabiro reports.

"In the first quarter of this year, we have two and a half times better results in tourism compared to the same period last year. This year should be a record year and 30-40 percent better than 2019," said Milatović.

According to the president, it is necessary to work quickly because he, as well as the citizens, have high expectations from the next government that will be formed after the elections that will be held on June 11.

"We have a complete recovery of GDP. At the end of 2022, according to IMF data, GDP was above that of 2019. This means that Montenegrin economic activity has fully recovered compared to the crisis period," Milatović said. .

President Milatović said that in the past three years there has been a decrease in the national debt in relation to GDP.

"At the end of 2019, the national debt was at the level of 79 percent of GDP. After the change of government in December 2020, the financial situation was catastrophic. However, at the end of last year, the national debt amounted to 71 percent of GDP. That indicates a clear trend of falling national debt," said Milatović.

Deposits in banks in Montenegro are at a record level, and, says Milatović, they were 65,2 billion euros at the end of last year.

"People trust our banking sector and that's why deposits are increasing. A large number of people came from Ukraine and Russia, and the estimate is that there are about 80 of them there, and they brought some financial resources with them," said Milatović.

Statistics show, says Milatović, that in Montenegro we currently have the lowest unemployment rate since the restoration of independence.

Milatović says that we must do more when it comes to improving green energy. We need more projects, he says.

"We have to finish the highway to Serbia, we have to build the Adriatic-Ionian road, we have to see what we are going to do with the improvement of environmental standards at the Pljevlja thermal power plant," says Milatović.

The Berlin process, says Milatović, is the best bridge between the countries of the Western Balkans and between the Western Balkans and Europe.

"We should give support to every initiative that concerns regional cooperation. If the open Balkans would additionally represent an incentive to work faster within the framework of the Berlin process, it makes sense," Milatović said.

Milatović particularly emphasized that he was glad to be a part of today's conference organized by the educational institution where he was educated.

"In the last 20 years, the Faculty of Economics has made a significant contribution to the economic development of Montenegro. I think that we should all be satisfied with the role that the Faculty of Economics has had and most certainly will have in the coming period in terms of economic development and the creation of policies in Montenegro." , said Milatović.