European projects are not only financial support, but a key component of Montenegro's path to a more prosperous future, announced the president of the Chamber of Commerce (PKCG), Nina Drakić.
"They improve our knowledge, bring innovation and open opportunities for cooperation with partners across Europe. Through these projects, Montenegrin organizations, institutions and companies become part of a larger community that shares values, goals and a vision of the future," said Drakić at the third Fair of European Projects organized by PKCG in front of the Petrović Castle in Kruševac.
It is an event that brings together institutions, organizations and companies that implement projects financed by various programs of the European Union (EU), and aims to promote the achieved results.
More than 40 organizations and institutions took part and presented around 200 projects.
Drakić pointed out that this event represents another opportunity to emphasize the importance of European integration and projects for the development of the Montenegrin economy and society.
She emphasized the importance of cooperation with the Ministry of European Affairs, both in the segment related to projects, and in the part of conducting pre-accession negotiations, which are of particular importance for the economy due to its integration into the single market.
According to Drakić, PKCG is proud of its role in the implementation, promotion and support of European projects.
"Our goal is to use European funds to improve the knowledge and capacities of both the economy and the Chamber as the oldest and unique business association in the country," said Drakić.
She emphasized the importance of cooperation because, as she added, only with joint efforts can we use all the potential that European projects provide us.
"This Fair is precisely the place where successful stories are promoted, but also where experiences are exchanged and ideas are shared. That is why it is important that we are open to cooperation, which is the basis of progress. European projects teach us how important it is to work together, share resources and experiences, and solve challenges together. I am convinced that this event will open up opportunities for numerous new initiatives and projects that will contribute to the further development of Montenegro," said Drakić.
She believes that in addition to using European funds, it is necessary to focus on the transfer of knowledge and experience from advanced EU countries in the areas of innovation and technology, environmental protection, green and circular economy, and digitalization.
And funds and project partnerships make this possible.
According to Drakić, numerous Fair participants confirm that Montenegro has the capacity to use the available support from European funds to work on itself and meet the set goals.
She reminded that through the first calls of various IPA III programs, numerous new projects were approved whose implementation has started or will start this year, and that she is happy that a new program - Digital Europe, Interreg Europe, Single Market Program - became available last year. and now EU4Health.
PKCG took advantage of this opportunity and together with its partners submitted an application for the first national Digital Innovation Hub, joined the project of the Interreg Europe program, and through the Single Market Program continued participation in the European Network of Entrepreneurship.
"The Chamber is active in 30 projects from 15 programs, and we expect the approval of a dozen new applications. Our partners are numerous universities, business associations, non-governmental organizations, science and technology parks from the EU and the region. This confirms that we are a credible partner who works dedicatedly to fulfill the goals of the contracted projects. It is imperative that we remain so in the period ahead. Our doors are also open to all partners from Montenegro, whom I invite on this occasion to exchange ideas and participate together in future invitations", said Drakić.
The Minister of European Affairs, Maida Gorčević, expressed her great pleasure at having the opportunity to open this now traditional event.
"The project fair gives us the opportunity to present the results of EU-funded projects in an immediate way and draw the public's attention to all the benefits that these projects bring to our citizens," Gorčević pointed out.
According to her, with the support of EU pre-accession funds, Montenegro has been actively implementing projects for more than 17 years that directly contribute to the sustainable development of the country and improve the living standards of citizens.
Starting from the field of healthcare, through education, social inclusion and environmental protection, to the development of tourism and the preservation of cultural heritage, the projects bring multiple benefits in numerous areas.
"The projects also allow us to cooperate with our neighbors, but also with all the member states of the Union. Thus, within the European territorial cooperation program, through mechanisms such as Interreg, Montenegrin institutions and organizations have the opportunity to implement projects together with colleagues from the wider environment, and in this way exchange good practices, solve common challenges, nurture good neighborly relations and contribute to regional stability. Gorcevic said.
She pointed out that for Montenegro, which with the 44th Government resolutely moved towards full membership in the EU, the projects financed by the Union play a key role in the process of European integration.
On the one hand, as stated by Gorčević, the projects enable us to reach the European standards that we strive for as a future member, while at the same time they give citizens the opportunity to feel the concrete benefits and positive changes brought by the process of accession to the Union, even before membership itself.
Ultimately, the projects prepare us for future challenges, as they allow us to build capacities for managing even larger projects when we become part of a large European family.
"I am pleased that today we have the opportunity to become more familiar with the results achieved by the beneficiaries of European Union funds in the previous period. At the same time, I encourage you to continue working hard and to use the many opportunities for financing projects that are available to you. By using these opportunities, I am sure that we can implement quality ideas, encourage innovation and improve the competitiveness of our country", said Gorčević.
She expressed her special gratitude to PKCG, for the organization of the event and the great cooperation from the very beginning.
Visitors to the Fair had the opportunity to learn about projects implemented by institutions, municipalities, companies, universities and the NGO sector.
In addition to familiarization with ongoing projects, the Fair offered the possibility of networking in order to achieve cooperation for calls expected in the coming period.
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