Montenegro is an attractive destination for investments due to the visible potential for tourism, agriculture, traffic infrastructure, energy and numerous investment opportunities in other sectors, especially in less developed areas, said the chairman of the Chamber of Commerce (PKCG), Vlastimir Golubovic.
"The results that the Montenegrin economy achieved in previous years and which continued in the first quarter of the current year will give us the right to state that Montenegro is a destination which is going on an upward trajectory," Golubovic said at a business meeting of the Montenegrin and Chinese businessmen, organized by the Embassy of China.
PKCG reported that China is the second Montenegrin foreign trade partner in import and is in the ninth position when it comes to exports. The trade turnover realized last year was EUR 270.6 million, which is 18.8 percent higher than in the previous year.
Last year, Montenegro was visited by 41.34 thousand tourists from China, who realized 94.78 thousand overnight stays.
"Recognizing the fact that tourists from the distant markets, such as the Chinese, can be attracted through the joint, regional tourist offer, the Chamber of Commerce of Montenegro, Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina is working on forming a common tourist product targeted at this tourist group. We intend to extend this kind of cooperation to all Western Balkan countries to stimulate the promotion and diversification of tourism products and services and thus contribute to increasing the number of tourists from distant parts of the world," Golubovic said.
He said the investments in energy infrastructure are important, and in particular the installation of an underwater cable between Italy and Montenegro, which will lead to a direct link between the markets of Southeast and West Europe.
"In this way, we will valorize the rich energy potential of the region, so I use the opportunity to invite your companies to invest in the energy sector and take advantages of the benefits that the realization of this project will bring," said Golubovic.
Speaking of investments made in the traffic infrastructure, in particular by accentuating the construction of Bar-Boljar motorway, Golubovic said domestic companies are reliable partners to the company China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC).
He urged Chinese companies to use the comparative advantages of the Port Bar, whose geographical position allows shortening the time of transport and reducing total transport costs.
Ambassador Liu Jin assessed relations between China and Montenegro are at the best level possible.
"Our two countries inherit deeply traditional friendship; practical co-operation has yielded rich fruits, consistently expanding the exchange at the cultural level. The visit of the Chinese entrepreneurs is another proof of our friendship and we expect to be a chance to develop concrete cooperation," Jin said.
He reminded that China and Montenegro are currently working mostly on building the road and energy infrastructure.
"Cooperation should be extended to sectors such as tourism, telecommunications, agriculture, wood industry and others," added Jin.
Deputy Director of the school of professional and lifelong education Hong Kong University SPACE Robert Ning Rong said that the goal of the Chinese delegation's visit was to get acquainted with the Montenegrin society and the country's economy.
"Although there is a difference in the size of our two countries, this is not an obstacle to establish a successful co-operation. Montenegro has a very important role in the initiative that brings together China and 17 Central and Eastern European countries, because through it we have established good relations with the Western Balkans region," said Ning Rong.
The event, organized by the delegation of the Chinese businessmen in Montenegro, organized by the University in Hong Kong, brought together representatives of more than 50 Chinese and Montenegrin companies from the tourism, manufacturing, trade, utility economy, construction, insurance, IT, finance, fashion, health care and others.
Text by MINA Business, on June 4th, 2019, read more at Vijesti
