16 April 2019 - President of Montenegro Milo Đukanović received the President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development Suma Chakrabarti, who is visiting Montenegro on the eve of the annual meeting of the EBRD, which will be held in Sarajevo next month.

The President of Montenegro expressed satisfaction with the long-standing successful cooperation with this financial institution, as well as with the EBRD's decision to hold an annual forum in Sarajevo, thus sending a clear message of its dedication to the Western Balkans. The quality of EBRD and Montenegro's cooperation best attests to the number of funds approved and to the impressive number of projects implemented in Montenegro.

Thanks to this cooperation Montenegro, said Đukanović, achieved good economic results, primarily in the field of infrastructure, energy and the development of small and medium business.

Đukanović pointed to the priorities of state policy, the goals of economic development and the continuation of integration processes to achieve the European quality of life of citizens and fully belonging to the European system of values. In talks with the first man of the EBRD, he stressed the importance of preserving the vision of united Europe and the EU enlargement as the only reliable stability guarantor in the Western Balkans, overcoming the decades-long lag, but also the competitiveness of Europe on the global scene.

"The Balkans have long lived beyond the European system of values. If we want the stability of the region and the achievement of European quality of life, Europe and Euro-Atlantic integration are the only way forward, "said Đukanović.

In addition to full commitment and accountability to the obligations of the European Agenda of the countries of the region, on the one hand, President Đukanović also pointed to the importance of concrete EU support.

"Support is necessary and significant for both Montenegro and the whole region, primarily in the fields of infrastructure, energy and information technology. In that sense, the EBRD is a very important partner in the whole region," Đukanović said adding that the upcoming leaders meeting in Sarajevo will be an excellent opportunity to exchange views on the future of the Western Balkans

EBRD President Suma Chakrabarti highly appreciates the cooperation of this institution with Montenegro, pointing out that Montenegro although a small country is at the top of the list of investments per capita in the Bank.

"I admire what you have done as a leader in Montenegro and the region - you are in NATO, in negotiations with the EU you are far ahead of others and it is very important for us to be seen as a partner supporting the process of integration and regional cooperation," said EBRD president. He expressed the expectation that cooperation with Montenegro will be strengthened in the future period and indicated the possibility of cooperation in the field of energy, above all renewable sources, infrastructure, Montenegro's accessibility, tourism and the strengthening of the private sector.

"Through the financing of the Competitiveness Council Secretariat, the Bank is also working to improve the business environment in Montenegro," added Chakrabarti.

The interlocutors agreed that the further dynamism of structural reforms and administration reform is of particular importance for the further development of the economy and the improvement of the quality of life. Finally, EBRD President thanked President Đukanović for accepting the invitation to attend a meeting in Sarajevo.

17 April 2019 - Prime Minister Duško Marković met with the ambassadors of the EU member states in Brussels, within the continuation of the dialogue on the process of Montenegro's accession to the European Union, its results and challenges as well as European perspective. 

The Prime Minister informed the ambassadors about political and economic developments in Montenegro, pointing out that Montenegro sees no alternative to its future in the Euro-Atlantic and European space. 

"As a country in transition, we are aware of our weaknesses, challenges, but we do not hide them, we do not yield to them and we strongly use the experience, support and consultations of our partners. We are a candidate country that does not want membership in the EU until we are fully prepared for it. We do not want to be a new problem in the EU, but a quality, we do not want to jeopardize the value of the EU, but to contribute to it," Prime Minister Duško Marković said at the meeting. 

Informing the ambassadors about the Government's successful economic policy, the Prime Minister said that the deficit has been halved and that there is no fear for the sustainability Montenegrin public finances, noting that Montenegro recorded very high economic growth rates - 4.7% in 2017 and 4.9% in 2018. In this regard, the Prime Minister said, growth was recorded in all sectors - tourism, energy, agriculture, industry, trade.

PM Marković pointed out that Montenegro is successfully fighting organized crime, stressing that in the past year the State carried out decisive actions to break up the strongest criminal organizations. 

"It is evident that organized crime loses the battle with the State. Institutions are getting stronger and more efficient. This fight in the country we are building cannot and will not be equal," the Prime Minister told the highest diplomatic representatives of the EU member states in Brussels. 

Prime Minister Marković highlighted the EU's investment in the region of the Western Balkans, which in the past ten years amounted to more than EUR eight billion, and the trade in the recent years amounted almost EUR 50 billion, with a growing trend in favour of the region. "The citizens of the region should know and be aware of the EU's direct participation in the development of our region," Prime Minister Duško Marković said. 

The ambassadors emphasised that the region of the Western Balkans has a European perspective and emphasised the fact that Montenegro is undoubtedly the leader of the integration process. In terms of European integration of Montenegro, they praised the fact that Montenegro has fully harmonized its foreign and security policy with the common European Union policy.

Montenegro's attitude towards other countries in the region and country's policy of good neighbourly relations and dialogue are highlighted as a positive example, with the assessment that Montenegro represents a stabilising factor in the Western Balkans. 

Furthermore, the meeting discussed the political situation in our region. PM Marković took the opportunity to reiterate Montenegro's full support to the historic agreement of North Macedonia and Greece. 

Chief Negotiator with the European Union Aleksandar Drljević also attended the meeting, organised by Romania which is currently holding the Presidency of the Council of the European Union. 

The Secretariat for Culture and Education of the Municipality Herceg Novi has presented a wall painting competition within the "Street Art Festival" to be held in September. The subject of the competition for making the art solution of the wall is "Paths, Faces, Districts". Specialists from the field of art, individuals and art groups who have at least three wall paintings are invited by the Secretariat to design a mural and send applications no later than May 15^th, 2019. Particularly welcome are the works that aesthetically suit and reflect the context of the city and the local community.  

A decision-making commission composed of three experts from the field of artistic creativity will be evaluating the delivered solutions. The three best works will be awarded prize money, and the authors will be provided with wall painting material by the organizers at the anticipated locations during the Street Art Festival in September. It is intended that this year's Street Art Festival will be of an international character, says the secretary Zambelic Pistalo.

"Discussions with the organizers of similar festivals in Helsinki, Finland and Esther, Portugal are ongoing. Hopefully, we will arrange the participation, which will make the Street Art festival have an international character, quality and more creative people," said the Secretary of Culture and education Ana Zambelic Pistalo.

The aim of the Street Art Festival is to enhance the public space and promote the city as a place of pleasant living, with the simultaneous affirmation of modern forms of art.

Text by Slavica Kosic, on April 16th 2019, read more at Vijesti

The "May Carnival Evenings", from 29^th April to 5^th May, marks the beginning of the summer tourist season in Budva, and a varied program will transform the squares in front of and within the Old Town into a podium for fans of good music and energy, said the organizers of the Municipality of Budva, the local Tourist organization and NGO Festadjuni.

They added that the program was designed to meet different tastes and ages and meet the expectations of all those who are happy to spend the Labor Day holidays in Budva.

During seven days at the Square of Painters in front of the Old Town and the squares in the Old Town, there will be events such as Bikers’ evening, Folklore, Zumba and Salsa nights, along with the music of various genres. The stars will perform at 10 p.m., YU group on the 30^th within the Bikers’ night, Sanja Ilic and Balkanika on the 1st May within the Evening of Folklore, while Jelena Rozga will perform on 2^nd May.

The last three days of the event are reserved for the 17th International Carnival and the 18th Spring Night under Masks. The carnival will begin on Friday, May 3^rd when masks will traditionally with Abrum invite citizens and tourists to the feast. The fun continues inside and in front of the wall of the Old Town, where the band “The Grupa” performs at 10 p.m. The Great Carnival Parade, on May 4^th, will be announced, with more than 2000 participants from fifteen countries, including Cuba, Spain, Italy, Austria, Ukraine, Russia. "The Books of Knjige" will be hosts of the program on that day.

On the last day, the children's carnival parade will start at 4.30 pm and later dance groups and ballet studio "Amadeus" will have their performances.

Text by Vuk Lajovic, on April 16th 2019, read more at Vijesti

16 April 2019 - The 37th Nautical Fair, an exhibition which promotes diverse nautical industry segments and continuously supports and encourages nautical tourism development, was officially opened in Budva on April 16.

From 16 to 20 April, the Fair will host 17 exhibitors from the country and abroad who will have the opportunity to present a range of products and services moulded to specific needs of the nautical business and tourism market.

The 37th Nautic Show - Sport, Camping & Recreation Equipment Fair was opened by the Director of the Adriatic Fair Rajko Bujković. The Director pointed out that Fair exhibitors will present vessels and other products created by the most famous world manufacturers. In the category of vessels, the new products of Bayliner, Smartliner, Sea Ray, Italboats, Ranieri will be exhibited under the roof of the Adriatic Fair. “The exhibition will also include a presentation of rubber boats by the manufacturers Zodiac, Mercury, Highfield, Yamaha and Seal. Some of the brands will be included in the exhibition program of the Nautical Fair for the first time, such as the famous Atlantic Marine brand, "said Bujković.

Visitors, sailors and fans of nautical and water sports will be able to get acquainted with the prosperous offer of outboard motors, personal watercraft – jet skis, as well as kayaks, canoes and a range of water sports equipment.

“We are pleased with the interest of renowned foreign producers to be directly presented to the growing Montenegrin market. In this context, the participation of the Austrian firm Jetfloat International is significant, because this company will present a product for which there is a high demand in the region, which are floating pontoons, “Bujković pointed out.

Exhibitors are allowed to partake in program activities which will enable them to present their offer and business activities during the event. “Improve your business results; get in direct touch with potential buyers and partners in a dynamic business environment during the nautical season opening at the Adriatic Coast. We provide a significant range of discounts, designed to support your sales effort and improve business results,” says the PR service of the Adriatic Fair, inviting all individuals and companies to visit the fair and follow the latest trends in the nautical world.

16 April 2019 - Director of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) for the Western Balkans Zsuzsanna Hargitai, who is on an official visit to Montenegro, met with the Mayor of Podgorica Ivan Vuković on April 16 to discuss further cooperation regarding the development of the Capital City.

The main topic of the meeting was the progress that Podgorica has made in relations to its official entry into the EBRD Green Cities programme and EBRD Smart Cities programme. These programmes are of great importance for the Capital of Montenegro, for almost all the capitals of the countries of Central and Eastern Europe are currently implementing them.

Mayor Vuković expressed his satisfaction with the fact that, apart from being considered as one of Montenegro's most important partners in development, today the EBRD officially becomes one of the most important partners of the Capital, in the efforts of the city administration to make Podgorica a green and smart city.

"The first step towards our goal involves the reconstruction of dozens of buildings, that is, buildings owned by the Capital City, but not only the facilities used by our administration, but also those that are in public use, which will in this way become more beautiful and more energy efficient," the Mayor explained, adding that the positive experiences of cities in the region in the implementation of similar projects will be a road sign that Podgorica will follow in the years ahead.

Mayor Vuković also emphasized that this step represents only a part of the "green package" which will be fully implemented by the administration of the Capital. "The Green Package includes a lot of projects, among others, wastewater treatment plant, reconstruction of public lighting, construction of a solar power plant, electricity generation from biogas, promotion of alternative forms of traffic, an attempt to compensate for a part of the lost green fund of Podgorica by greening numerous locations in the Capital, as well as the modernization of our public transport," Vuković said. "All of these plans imply that the City Administration has a very ambitious agenda and, quite certainly, without the help and support of partners such as the EBRD, we could not succeed in the way we have so far. With optimism, we expect a further continuation of our cooperation," the Mayor concluded.

"At the beginning of this successful cooperation, which aims to transform Podgorica into a smart and green city, we have signed a letter of commitment that will help us in the realization of projects," said EBRD Director for the Western Balkans, Zsuzsanna Hargitai.

Podgorica has joined EBRD Green Cities with first steps towards improving the energy efficiency in public buildings in the Capital of Montenegro in December 2018. Mayor Ivan Vuković and EBRD Head of Montenegro Jaap Sprey, signed a mandate letter committing the city to improve the sustainability and liveability of the Capital. The mandate letter is the first step on the path to developing a Green City Action Plan (GCAP) for Podgorica. The GCAP strategically addresses the city’s needs for sustainable and green growth. With financing from the EBRD and international donors, the plan addresses the most pressing climate change and environmental challenges, including public building energy efficiency, urban roads and lighting, urban transport, water and wastewater, and, to reduce local pollution, improve energy and resource efficiency and promote climate change adaptation.

Director Hargitai emphasized that the EBRD is a long-standing partner of Montenegro and has invested over half a billion euros in the country so far. She also expressed her satisfaction that the EBRD will support the realization of the projects above, which will contribute to improving the living conditions of all citizens of Podgorica and further development of the Capital of Montenegro.

16 April 2019 - To promote domestic products and achieve better placement through trade and tourism offer, the Agriculture and Rural Development Ministry, the Capital City Podgorica and Montenegro Business Alliance have organized the Third Agricultural Fair, which will take place on Thursday, April 18 in Podgorica at the Independence Square.

The main topic of the fair is "The need for greater participation of domestic products in the supply of tourism and trade sectors". The fair starts at 11:00 am.

The Agricultural Fair is supported by the Ministry of Sustainable Development and Tourism, the Ministry of Economy and the Institute for Entrepreneurship and Economic Development (IPER).

"This is the third Agricultural Fair organized by the Montenegro Business Alliance just before the start of the main tourist season. The goal of organizing this event is the further promotion of domestic agricultural products, with emphasis on the need to strengthen the cooperation of agricultural producers and representatives of the tourism and commercial sector," said the representatives of Podgorica.

Such manifestations are, as explained by the organizers, an excellent opportunity to strengthen the cooperation of the tourism sector and trade with agricultural producers.

"These are special activities that require continuity to achieve the desired goal. The organizers have provided space and booths where agricultural products will be exhibited, with the note that agricultural producers are not obliged to pay any compensation," the PG Biro said.

At the Agricultural Fair 2018, around 60 participants presented their products at the Independence Square – individual producers, processing companies and their clusters. The organizers noted that this manifestation presents only a small part of what Montenegrin producers can offer when it comes to agricultural products.

“It is imperative that we all understand that choosing a domestic product means contributing to the development of the domestic economy, creation of new jobs, which will eventually raise the standard of living for all of us and development of the entire society. Thus, to reach our goal of better placement of domestic products, all sectors must make new steps, working together to achieve this goal,” the organisers explained, inviting all citizens to visit the fair and support domestic producers by purchasing organic products.

16 April 2019 - On April 16, Prime Minister Duško Marković hosted the President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) Sir Suma Chakrabarti who is on an official visit to Montenegro. During the meeting, it was noted that Montenegro has achieved excellent results in economic policy, has a good development prospect and numerous opportunities for progress and investments with the support of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

"My compliments for the accession of Montenegro to NATO as well as for the progress made in relations to the accession to the EU. Our job is to help, to invest in the region, to bring it closer. Montenegro is ahead of other countries in these aspects," said Sir Chakrabarti. The EBRD President also pointed out that in many projects the EBRD partners with the EU as well as in policy reform and the improvement of the investment climate.

He congratulated Prime Minister Marković on the results in economic policy - achieved growth, revenue growth, and pointed out that foreign financial markets look positively at the developments in Montenegro, which was shown when the Eurobonds were issued last year.

Sir Chakrabarti said that Montenegro plays a special role in the Western Balkans and it has a special place within the EBRD as a whole, for it is in Montenegro that the EBRD has its highest per capita investment.

"And we have a good reason for this - we have good investment conditions," Chakrabarti said, adding that there are fantastic opportunities for new investments in Montenegro and support from the EBRD.

PM Marković said that the Government is focused on the economy, creation of new jobs and providing a better standard of living. He pointed to the importance of previous EBRD support to state institutions and enterprises, as well as the private sector. The meeting discussed further strengthening of cooperation in the field of tourism, energy and infrastructure, without whose improvement there is no dynamic development.

Both sides agreed that it is important to continue structural reforms, reducing the grey economy, strengthening competitiveness and the business environment.