The forum entitled Montenegro and the Diaspora in Serbia and the Region strongly affirms the role of the diaspora as one of the most important development potentials for Montenegro, said the President of the Chamber of Commerce, Nina Drakić, adding that strengthening cooperation with the Serbian market is important.
At the opening of the business forum on Monday in Kula, she said that she was pleased that the forum was being organized in the year of a great national jubilee - 20 years since the restoration of Montenegro's independence.
"Serbia is much more than a neighbor to Montenegro. Serbia is our most important foreign trade partner, a partner with whom we have deep economic, historical and cultural ties. Trade between the two countries is continuously growing and in the past year it reached around 900 million euros, or almost a fifth of Montenegro's total foreign trade," said Drakić.
According to her, as the most advanced candidate for EU membership, Montenegro continues to harmonize its legislation and business environment with European standards, creating a stable and predictable framework for investments.
"Serbia has recognized this as a serious opportunity and is among the leading investors in Montenegro with almost 600 million euros of direct investments in the last six years, which is precisely why I believe that years of even stronger cooperation between our two countries lie ahead," Drakić said.
She said that these numbers are not just statistics, they speak about the daily connection of our companies, markets and citizens, they speak about joint investments, tourism, trade, logistics, energy, the food industry and services, they speak about thousands of business contacts and friendships that have been built over the years.
"Today, we have the opportunity to give this cooperation new energy and a new vision," added Drakić.
The forum was organized by the Montenegrin Center for Culture and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Montenegro, under the auspices of the Ministry of Diaspora of the Government of Montenegro. The forum brought together companies from various sectors - from agriculture and the food industry to tourism, winemaking and innovative activities.
Drakić emphasized that this forum strongly affirms the role of the diaspora as one of the most important development potentials of Montenegro.
"Our diaspora is not just an emotional connection to the homeland. It is an economic bridge and a serious development resource. It is a network of knowledge, capital, experience, contacts and trust. People from the diaspora today represent important investors, successful entrepreneurs, promoters of Montenegro and natural partners in connecting regional markets," said Drakić.
Therefore, as she said, the forum has a much broader significance than a business event. It represents a platform for long-term cooperation, connecting institutions, municipalities, business people and our people in the region and the world.
The President of the Board of Directors of the Montenegrin Cultural Center, Dimitrije Čurović, announced that they see the forum as the beginning of an initiative to establish a Montenegrin Business Club in Serbia.
"Today we are not here just because of the past, but above all because of the future. This forum was created from the idea that Montenegro and its diaspora must be more strongly connected economically, institutionally and humanly. The diaspora should be a development partner through knowledge, experience, contacts and investments. That is why today we are talking specifically about investments, tourism, agriculture, the food industry, regional cooperation and new business opportunities," said Čurović.
According to him, Montenegro is a small country, but it has hardworking people, a strong diaspora, and serious development potential.
"That's why we should be better connected. If we are organized, we can do much more for Montenegro and the region," Čurović added.
The head of the Center for Regional Cooperation of the Serbian Chamber of Commerce, Aleksandar Radovanović, noted that this forum confirms the close economic and business ties between Serbia and Montenegro.
"Our economies are naturally connected, and our cooperation is gaining new quality year after year. It is important that we continue to build an environment in which the economy will be able to operate even faster, more efficiently and more competitively. It is particularly important that cooperation does not only take place in trade, but also in concrete steps that improve the connection of our markets and economies," said Radovanović.
He said that after establishing a single toll collection system and a joint railway border crossing in Bijelo Polje, it is a significant decision for our countries to work together on two key infrastructure projects - the modernization of the Belgrade-Bar railway, for whose financing they have jointly approached the European Commission, as well as the continuation of the construction of the Požega-Andrijevica highway.
"These are projects of great importance for our economies and the entire region because they bring better connectivity, faster flow of goods and people, as well as lower business costs," said Radovanović.
Consul General of Montenegro in Serbia, Nevenka Ćirović, emphasized that she believes that the diaspora is one of the most important resources that Montenegro has.
"Montenegro is on the threshold of EU membership and it will not be long before Serbia borders the EU through Montenegro. Montenegro's doors have been open to all well-intentioned people and I believe they will remain so," said Ćirović.
Radojica Petrović from the Investment Agency of Montenegro presented the investment potential of Montenegro and expressed her pleasure at attending the business forum in Kula:
"I am glad to be in Kula today, a city that is home to a large number of Montenegrins. For some of you, Montenegro is your homeland, for some, your country of origin, and for all of you, it is synonymous with beauty, tradition and, I hope, potential," said Petrović.
Communications consultant, Leka Dedivanović, added that ties with the diaspora are important in all segments.
"Our ties are important both in the field of culture and preserving identity, as well as in the field of business and investment. The common idea is to solve the problems that lie ahead of us, to overcome business barriers, to exchange knowledge and experience. We need to share all the benefits so that the society we live in is much better, and everyone is much happier and more satisfied," said Dedivanović.
As part of the business forum, the municipalities of Žabljak and Bijelo Polje were presented, the main panel Diaspora as a development partner of Montenegro was held: investments, tourism and economic cooperation, and this was followed by B2B meetings for networking and establishing direct business contact.
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