The President of the Chamber of Commerce, Nina Drakić, said that the Berlin Process represents one of the key initiatives that transformed regional cooperation in the Western Balkans.
She opened the 13th conference on the economy of Montenegro 2024 - Decade of the Berlin Process, which is organized by the Chamber of Commerce in cooperation with the Eastern Board of German Economy.
"In the decade behind us, the Berlin Process has provided a significant contribution to the development of the region through a series of concrete initiatives and projects. One of the most important aspects of the Berlin process is the contribution to the economic integration of the region, which directly improves the business environment," said Drakić.
According to her, only thanks to the free movement of labor within the region, the GDP (of the region) could increase by 1,3 percent as early as 2025.
"Projections indicate that a favorable and competitive environment would contribute to an annual increase in work by two percent, and that it could attract up to 6,5 percent more investments and increase the rate of job growth up to one percent per year, while increasing the productivity of small and medium-sized enterprises by five to ten percent. Therefore, the Berlin Process represents a platform that allows us to work synergistically to create a more stable, connected and prosperous Western Balkans. Through joint efforts, we can ensure that our citizens have a better future, that our economies are more resistant to global challenges, and that the region is closer to the European Union. So it's up to us," emphasized Drakić.
He points out that regional cooperation is the cornerstone of the region's stability and progress and a key tool and path for a new integration momentum towards the EU, and that many of the instruments aimed at speeding up the European integration process are precisely within the framework of the Berlin process.
"No Western Balkan country has reservations about the Berlin process. In my opinion, this is the only thing that can ensure the success of this initiative until the last member of the Western Balkans reaches its goal," said Drakić.
Prime Minister Milojko Spajić said that the Government of Montenegro is absolutely committed to creating preconditions for strengthening the competitiveness of the Montenegrin economy, through the reduction of barriers to business and the improvement of the business environment so that our economy is ready to use all the benefits of both the regional and the Single EU market.
"That's why the economic reforms we are implementing are aimed at creating: predictable, transparent and stimulating tax policies that will not be an obstacle but support the economy for development, investment and encouraging employment. The rule of law, meeting the requirements of the European agenda and the development of infrastructure are areas that require special progress in order for Montenegro to use its economic potential in the coming years and for Montenegro to be an attractive place for doing business and investing. Economically strengthened, Montenegro will be a country you come to, not one you leave. That is why we are doing everything to rapidly improve the standard of our citizens, while taking care that all reforms give impetus to economic growth, are stimulating for the economy and sustainable when it comes to public finances", said Spajić and added:
"Obtaining IBAR, the expected closure of four chapters by the end of this year, the reduction of the tax burden on wages, the transformation of the IRF into the Development Bank and the expected accession of Montenegro to the Single Payment Area in euros, with stable public finances and a macroeconomic environment characterized by: dynamic the rate of economic growth, the declining trend of inflation and the lowest unemployment rate in history, are concrete results that we can be satisfied with when it comes to the first year of work of this Government. We have an even more ambitious agenda in the coming years, which requires key progress in areas that are particularly important for the economy, such as: digitization and development of innovations, availability of qualified labor, improvement of transport and energy infrastructure and reduction of the gray economy. The cooperation of the Government and the economy, along with extremely close cooperation with all the countries of the region and the support of the EU, will provide the necessary impetus for the upcoming, in the case of Montenegro, the final phase of accession to the Union."
He also says that the Berlin process will be successful when the narrative about the future of the Berlin process "is replaced by the narrative about our actions within the European Union".
"In other words, when all of us gathered here, entrepreneurs and businessmen, talk about the challenges and trends within the Single Market, of which we will become a full-fledged part in the meantime."
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