At today's session, chaired by Prime Minister Milojko Spajić, the Government adopted the Decision on determining the public interest for the expropriation of real estate in the administrative districts of Andrijevica, Slatina, Sjenožeta, Gnjili Potok and Kralje in the territory of the Andrijevica municipality for the construction of the Bar - Boljare highway, section Mateševo - Andrijevica.
"The Traffic Administration, in accordance with the Law on Roads and the Law on the Budget of Montenegro, has proposed the implementation of the procedure for the expropriation of real estate in the territory of the Municipality of Andrijevica for the construction of the Bar - Boljare highway, section Mateševo - Andrijevica. The expropriation of real estate in the territory of the Municipality of Andrijevica is being carried out in the administrative divisions Slatina, Gnjil Potok, Andrijevica, Krale and Sjenožeta in the territory of the Municipality of Andrijevica," the Government announced.
The obligation of the Montenegro - Transport Administration is to resolve property and legal relations, in accordance with the provisions of the Law on Expropriation. The funds for the payment of monetary compensation for expropriated real estate and for that road route are planned in the Law on the Budget of Montenegro for 2025.
The Government today adopted the Program for Improving Economic Competitiveness for this year, for whose implementation budget funds of 3,5 million euros have been allocated.
In accordance with the Government's Work Program for this year, the Ministry of Economic Development has prepared a Program aimed at further developing micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) and increasing their productivity, which should contribute to the creation of a more resilient, competitive and export-oriented economy.
"The participation and growth of MSMEs is of key importance for the future growth and development of the Montenegrin economy, given that MSMEs represent a very important share of economic activity in the country, but also in the Western Balkans region and have a strong orientation towards the EU single market," the statement said.
The program will be implemented through three program lines of support.
"This is a program line for improving production capacities in the food industry - it is aimed at co-financing the adaptation of facilities and the procurement of new equipment and/or machinery included in the production process for carrying out supported activities within sector C of the Classification of Activities with allocated funds in the amount of 2,85 million euros," the Government said.
The aid intensity for Component 1, which refers to companies operating until the end of the previous year, is 50 to 70 percent of the amount of eligible costs excluding VAT, i.e. in an amount not less than 25 thousand euros nor more than 150 thousand euros for companies performing supported activities within sector C.
"Component 2 refers to newly established business entities from the beginning of the year until the closing date of the public call, in the amount of 50 percent of justified costs excluding VAT, the minimum amount for reimbursement of costs cannot be less than 15 thousand euros or more than 50 thousand euros," the statement states.
The program line for supporting women's entrepreneurship, with allocated budget funds in the amount of 500 thousand euros, includes financial and non-financial support to companies majority-owned by women and is implemented within two components.
"Component 1 is for business start-ups - in the amount of 80 percent or 70 percent of the amount of the contracted subsidy excluding VAT, in the minimum amount of one thousand euros, and in the maximum amount of up to 30 thousand euros excluding VAT. If the requested amount is up to ten thousand euros, the company can obtain pre-financing in the amount of 70 percent, and if the amount is above ten thousand euros or the company does not want pre-financing, it can obtain a refund of 80 percent," the statement specifies.
Component 2 refers to business entities owned by women at least 51 percent, which on the date of the closing of the public call have been operating for at least three years or longer, in the amount of 80 percent of the amount of eligible costs excluding VAT, the amount of the contracted subsidy in the minimum amount of one thousand euros, and in the maximum amount of up to 30 thousand euros.
The program line for stimulating sustainable health development, with allocated budget funds in the amount of 150 thousand euros, includes investments in fixed assets - new equipment directly related to production or provision of services, which is directly related to the basic activity code.
"The intensity of support is 70 percent of the amount of eligible costs excluding VAT, in a minimum amount of one thousand euros, and in a maximum amount of up to 30 thousand euros excluding VAT," the statement added.
The program is designed on a system of refunding a portion of the justified costs of implementing a specific activity that the company is implementing. The principle is that the company finances 100 percent of all costs until the completion of the activity for which it is applying, and then, after submitting documentation proving the expenditure of funds for the contracted activity, the Ministry of Economic Development approves a refund of a portion of the costs.
The Government has adopted the Program for the Development and Promotion of Crafts for this year. The key objective of the Program is to encourage the development of Montenegrin craftsmen by providing financial support for the purchase of equipment/tools/reproduction materials intended for performing craft activities and introducing their business into legal channels, namely strengthening the competitiveness of existing craftsmen, increasing the number of registered craftsmen, supporting novice craftsmen, encouraging entrepreneurship among women and young people engaged in craft activities, and supporting craftsmen in the purchase of production materials.
The total budget for the implementation of the Program is 300 thousand euros, and the implementation is carried out through three components.
"The approved support for the value of the purchased equipment/tools covers up to 70 percent of the eligible costs plus an additional percentage of support for less developed municipalities of ten percent and women and young people under 35 years of age of ten percent, in the amount of up to 14 thousand euros, excluding VAT per craftsman, which is an increased maximum amount of support compared to the previous year. The maximum amount of approved support per craftsman within the first component is 14 thousand euros, while the minimum amount of approved support is one thousand euros," the statement said.
The approved support for the value of the purchased equipment/tools covers up to 80 percent of the eligible costs plus an additional percentage of support for less developed municipalities of ten percent and women and young people up to 35 years of age of ten percent, in the amount of up to six thousand euros excluding VAT per newly registered craftsman. The maximum amount of approved support per craftsman under the second component is six thousand euros, while the minimum amount of approved support is one thousand euros.
"The approved support for the value of the procurement of raw materials covers up to 80 percent of the eligible costs plus an additional percentage of support for less developed municipalities of ten percent and women and young people under 35 years of age of ten percent, in the amount of up to one thousand euros excluding VAT per craftsman who are registered as entrepreneurs and micro-enterprises. The maximum amount of approved support per craftsman within the third component if it is an entrepreneur is one thousand euros, and if it is a micro-enterprise it is 500 euros. The third component is new compared to the previous year," the statement said.
The support is based on the principle of reimbursement, in such a way that the craftsman finances 100 percent of all costs until the completion of the activity for which he is applying, after which, upon submission of documentation and mandatory monitoring, the Ministry reimburses part of the costs.
At the Government session, an amendment to the Regulation on the conditions, manner and dynamics of implementing agricultural policy measures for 2025 - Agrobudget was adopted.
"The change is being made to sub-item "2.3.2 Rural development and infrastructure construction" in the section Description of the measure and criteria for support for the purpose of simplifying procedures, with the aim of more efficient and easier implementation of the said measure," the Government said.
This measure refers to support for the improvement of rural infrastructure, and in particular for the construction of new and adaptation and reconstruction and equipping of existing local infrastructure to individual or groups of rural households, access to katuns, infrastructure within the farm, projects for the development of the electricity network in rural areas, as well as the use of solar energy for public use at the local level, projects to support the operation of machine rings, other rural infrastructure projects, as well as facilities of general public interest in rural areas.
"Support is also provided for the procurement of a continuous olive oil production line and other supporting equipment for the comprehensive operation of the Olive House in Bar, in the amount of 50 percent of the value of the procurement of the production line. Also, the Ministry will contact all local governments with the aim of submitting three priority projects each from the areas financed by this measure," the Government said.
For local governments that meet the criteria, the Ministry will sign contracts with them, which will more precisely define the payment method and deadlines for the completion of investments. Individual requests can also be submitted by local communities, groups of citizens, management boards and registered agricultural farms.
"In order to be considered, they must contain: a description of the location, photographs of the current condition, a description of the investment value, with the mandatory submission of a pro forma invoice, as well as an explanation that primarily represents the number of potential farmers and agricultural areas that will benefit from the investment, as well as the person responsible for the implementation of the investment and a valid bank account number," the statement concludes.
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