Milatović: Too many times decisions have been made that were not in the best economic interest of the state

The annual awards of the Chamber of Commerce of Montenegro (PKCG), which were presented today at Vila Gorica, are a confirmation of responsible business, commitment to development and willingness to go a step further in creating new value for society.

On the occasion of the Chamber Day, the annual awards of this business association – the most significant business awards in the country – were ceremoniously presented at Villa Gorica.

The awards were presented by the President of Montenegro, Jakov Milatović, in the presence of representatives of the Government, institutions, the diplomatic corps and the economy.

The laureates are Azmont Investments from Herceg Novi and Trony Network from Kotor for successful business in the service sector, then the Trebjesa Beer and Juice Industry from Nikšić and Mivex Food from Pljevlja for successful business in sectors covered by industrial policy, the Montenegrin Commercial Bank for social responsibility, Llucka Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil from Tuzi and DigitalDen Hub from Podgorica for innovation, the President of the Board of Directors of NLB Bank, Martin Leberle, for management improvement, the CEO of ENTEXT from Podgorica, Ana Radonjić, for women in business and the founder of Remid Vis Podgorica, Vukić Stanić, for special contribution to the development of the economy and the affirmation of the Chamber.

Speaking about the importance of the award, the President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Montenegro, Nina Drakić, said that it expresses the dedication and appreciation of the hard work of businessmen and confirms the work of the Chamber, as a unique institution that has been uniting the Montenegrin economy for 98 years, protecting its interests and advocating for the achievement of values ​​that guarantee the long-term prosperity of the country.

"Dear award winners, you remain registered in the place where you belong, sending messages to many others to join you. I would like to congratulate all the companies and individuals who were candidates for this year's award, whose business results deserve the attention and respect of the entire society," said Drakić.

In reference to the important anniversary - two decades of the restoration of Montenegro's independence, Drakić said that the umbrella Montenegrin business association, during almost a century of existence, has witnessed the development of the Montenegrin economy - from crafts and trade in the initial phase, to the modern opportunities brought by the era of new industries, with digital transformation and the green economy.

"Without a strong and developed economy, there are no strong institutions, and without the internationalization of our companies, Montenegro cannot be part of the society of developed countries. Our ability to adapt, to see challenges as opportunities, to cooperate and to think ahead are key factors of competitiveness and stability," said Drakić.

According to her, the Chamber's analyses show that the basic prerequisite for sustainable growth in the coming period must be the continuation of structural reforms that guarantee a predictable business and investment environment, as well as the intensive implementation of infrastructure projects.

"We cannot build development on short-term cycles, but we need a clear overarching development strategy, which will represent a social and economic consensus," Drakić emphasized.

Milatović said that the existing growth model has been exhausted, and that the key word at this moment is "reforms".

"Too many times, decisions have been made that were not in the best economic interest of the state. But reform is not a slogan. Reform is a series of concrete decisions," Milatović added.

He stated that an economic publication marking the 20th anniversary of the restoration of Montenegro's independence will be presented in September.

"This document will be a roadmap for a new growth model, with concrete measures to accelerate economic development. I would like to invite you to be part of this process. In the coming months, we will open a space for dialogue with the economy, in order to jointly define measures that are realistic, applicable and that produce results," said Milatović.

The explanation of the decision of the Committee for the Award of the PKCG was announced by the President of the Assembly of the association, Stevan Karadaglić.

According to him, these awards are not only recognition of the achieved success, but also confirmation of the values ​​that the Chamber wants to affirm - responsible business, commitment to development and willingness to go a step further in creating new value for society.

"The decision is based on clearly defined criteria: achieved results, continuity of growth, innovation, but above all - contribution to the development of the Montenegrin economy and society as a whole. We particularly appreciated the ability of the laureates to demonstrate stability, clear vision and long-term orientation towards sustainable development and the creation of lasting values ​​in challenging circumstances. It is precisely in this combination of results and responsibility, but also the courage to develop new ideas and push boundaries, that lies the reason why these laureates are before us today," said Karadaglić.