Currently, on the territory of the Municipality of Tivat, there are ongoing works on infrastructure and public buildings with a total value of 4.37 million euros.

There is an ongoing adaptation of the building Buca-Lukovic, which is used by the PU Museum and Gallery Tivat worth 176,000 euros. A reconstruction of the Cultural Center facility is being carried out, for which EUR 365,000 was allocated. The construction of the second phase of the MR1 road, which is an investment of 2.98 million, as well as the first phase of the seafront promenade Lungo mare Krasici, worth 747.000 euros, continued on Luštica peninsula. The completion of the first phase of the renovation of the Arsenal auxiliary sports field is ongoing, for which 54,000 euro is committed, which is as much as for the continuation of works on the sewerage in Donja Lastva.

“The municipality has announced a tender worth 665,000 euros, out of which 390,000 is set for the first phase of construction of a facility for children with disabilities in Seljanovo, and 200,000 for the cleaning of the submarine area in the port Kalimanj. The expansion of public lighting in the municipality will cost 40,000, and the purchase of the conference system for the local parliament 35,000 euros," the municipality said.

Tenders worth 2.3 million euros are being prepared, including 700,000 for local road asphalting and 500,000 for the second phase of Belani promenade, i.e. 550,000 euros for the second phase of the facility for children with disabilities. 120.000 euros are for the repair of sidewalks and walkways, and the construction of supporting walls in Gornja Lastva.

Text by Sinisa Lukovic, on February 7th 2019, read more at Vijesti

The merriest Feast in Crmnica and Bar - The Festival of Wine and Ukljeva fish, after several delays, will probably be held the third weekend in February, said the director of Tourist organization of Bar Emil Kukalj.

He told “Vijesti” that this was just one of the activities of TOB this spring, and that they will bring some of the old well-known manifestations back to Bar.

"A rich cultural and entertainment program has been prepared for the Festival of Wine and Ukljeva. Also, TO Bar organizes a concert for Valentine’s Day on February 14^th at the Square Vladimir and Kosara. In February, we will present the tourist offer from Bar on the tourism fairs in Munich and Prague and the most important IFT tourism fair in Belgrade," Kukalj said.

In the future activities, TO also included the development of the Tourism Development Strategy of Bar until 2025, which will provide guidelines for further development of tourist offer and promotion and destination’s marketing. Kukalj notes that they have planned to carry out the events "Games Without Boundaries", "Visit the Mountains" and "Days of Grapes".

As he added, a series of well-received and highly-ranked programs continued since the beginning of this year.

This is primarily the three-day New Year's Eve in cooperation with the Municipality of Bar with a variety of entertainment programs and booths with local specialties, and the premiere free of charge ice rink at the square that attracted guests to Bar from all over Montenegro during that month. The TO estimates that there were over 10,000 skaters at the skating rink, and there were about 15,000 visitors at the Square of Vladimir and Kosara during the New Year's concerts.

Text by Radomir Petric, on February 7th 2019, read more at Vijesti

Minister of Finance Darko Radunovic and his associates met with the head of the office for Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina, Emanuel Salinas, to discuss projects from the World Bank portfolio and future activities, it was stated from the Ministry. 

"Today's meeting, which represents the continuity of the meeting with representatives of the World Bank, was an opportunity for Minister Radunovic to address the significance of tax administration reform with electronic fiscalization, in the context of current projects with the World Bank, and emphasized the importance of funds received thanks to the World Bank’s first warranty for the development policy - PBG1, in the context of refinancing part of the public debt, as well as activities to meet the requirements for obtaining another guarantee - PBG2," the statement states.

As he adds, Salinas stressed that there are no open issues regarding the implementation of investment projects and he has introduced the activities of World Bank working teams to the project "Employment and Growth".

"He also presented the World Bank's initiative for credit support to the regional project of linking the Western Balkan countries through trade and transport facilitation, which is in the function of regional economic integration," as stated by the Ministry of Finance.

Text by MINA News, on February 6th 2019, read more at Vijesti

February 8, 2019 - We are introducing you Kristina Skanata, a specialist in media and public relations, a passionate traveller and a great fan of Boka Bay. She began her career as a journalist at Budva Television and has been part of the Porto Montenegro PR team for six years. Kristina's creativity is at work, in her recognisable style of dress, entertainment, and decision to indulge in real adventures by travelling to distant and exotic destinations.

Kristina Skanata, photo by ZOAN Photography

 

Kristina Skanata: Public relations are an exciting, intense and unpredictable industry - it is a fusion of communication skills and creativity, visionary ability and cause-and-effect relationships. A typical day covers press releases, copywriting, giving speeches, composing creative media campaigns, conducting interviews, producing press clipping reports, as well as working on Corporate Social Responsibility projects. We also have a strong focus on events, which we design and execute to form the lifestyle experience at our superyacht marina village. "Truth well told" is my PR motto, and it works pretty well in all spheres of public relations, especially in a PR crisis. My passions are copywriting and luxury travel videos - that's what I miss most from my previous role in television. It is for this reason that I approach creative photo and video projects for Porto Montenegro with great enthusiasm.

"Uplifting the Community" project, Kristina Skanata

 

TMN: You always have to come up with new ideas to meet your corporate and public needs. It’s this creativity that gave birth to your plan for the "Uplifting the Community” project. How easy or hard is it to determine which campaigns will work best?

Kristina Skanata, Torres Del Paine, Patagonia, private photo collection

 

TMN: Outside working hours, you get to enjoy your free time. What are your usual weekend plans? Do you attend shows/manifestations?

Kristina Skanata, Wadi Rum Desert, Jordan, private photo collection

 

TMN: You're passionate about travel. But are you a traveller, or a tourist?

Kristina Skanata, Thailand, private photo collection

 

Such stories epitomise the essence of what is often the most beautiful, and sometimes risky, life experiences. From moments of great courage and madness whilst stood next to a tiger in Thailand, I also dared venture into one of the most dangerous favelas in Rio de Janeiro with my friends - a place that even the Brazilian postmen tend to avoid – where the nearby clashes of local gangs could be heard from only a few metres. 

Kristina Skanata, Venice, Italy, private photo collection

 

Aside from the above, I'll always choose to return to New York! Just enough to become reacquainted with the concrete jungle, sayings like "have a nice day", bright yellow taxis and friendly drivers, Starbucks coffee (which somewhat subjectively never tastes the same outside of New York), the fast-paced lifestyle, all-glass skyscrapers and smiling doormen in their uniforms… a place where I reenact scenes from episodes of Friends and Serendipity and connect with Sex & City. The famous shops and "artistic" part of the city, Greenwich Village and Soho are known for their European architecture, small brick houses, the artists that inhabited them, and the richness of identity, subculture, colours and design.

 

 

08 February 2019 - The Municipality of Tivat received a donation worth 30.000,00 EUR from the company Qatari Diar Real Estate.

The Qatari Diar Real Estate Company was established in 2005 by the Qatar Investment Authority, the sovereign wealth fund of the State of Qatar. The company is headquartered northeast of capital Doha on the coast of the Arabian Gulf. Qatari Diar has established itself as one of the world’s most trusted and respected real estate companies because of its commitment to quality, local community, partnership and sustainability. As of January 2018, Qatari Diar has a shared capital of US $8 billion, with 60 investment projects under development or held in 24 countries around the world, combining a value of over US$35 billion.

Qatari Diar has also launched a construction project in Montenegro - the company acquired the rights to the Blue Horizon hotel complex for €24 million, and it is in their plan to develop a five-star luxury hotel that will include sports resorts and villas. As stated by the representatives of the company, “the Plavi Horizonti Project, based upon the principles of an exclusive resort atmosphere, with reference to the natural setting of the Montenegrin landscape character, historic heritage and elements of an authentic Montenegrin village, is located ideally on the Luštica Peninsula, facing towards the magnificent Adriatic Sea. The mixed-use resort will include a 200-room world-class luxury resort hotel, a spa, a beach club, more than 140 residential villas, apartments and townhouses, and traditional village-style retail and recreation areas.”

This respected real estate company has decided to donate funds to support the development of Tivat Municipality. The donation will be directed towards the realisation of the second phase of asphalting the local road to Radovići Village on the peninsula Luštica. The segment of the road to Radovići that will be constructed is the road section Rogač-Radovići.

The Municipality of Tivat previously financed the reconstruction and asphalting of the section from the Đuraševići coast to the end of the Radovići Village, worth around 94.000,00 EUR.

On the Luštica peninsula, the construction of the second phase of the MR1 is underway, which will connect the local road to Radovići (from the natural reserve Tivatska solila) and the second phase of MR1. This road represents a direct traffic link to the development of tourism projects which are being built on the Luštica peninsula. The MR1 road will also greatly facilitate traffic in this part of the peninsula, which is of particular importance for the locals of the surrounding local communities.

08 February 2019 - A great deal of business success comes down to its advertising, and while large companies spend millions on advertising and marketing, that doesn’t mean it’s the only way to get a quality promotion. A recent example of free advertising of Sveti Stefan in Montenegro can be seen on a flyer by the Bank of America!  

Today, the luxury resort Sveti Stefan has received yet another confirmation of quality. The last in the series of Sveti Stefan’s promotions took place on the advertising flyer created for the Bank of America, one of the leading banking groups in the United States.

Namely, during its advertising campaign for the Bank of America Cash Rewards Credit Card, this bank used a photograph of the fairy-tale-like destination Sveti Stefan to attract the potential clients of the card. As mentioned on the flyer, a visit to luxury destinations is a reward for the right choices in life, and the one destination that has been highlighted is exactly the luxury resort in Montenegro. "Choose the rewards that are right for you", the Bank of America states on the flyer, while the picturesque Sveti Stefan glows to enchant all those who read the promotional material.

The jewel of the Budva Riviera - charming extraordinary island village Sveti Stefan is a picturesque fortification of 15th-century stone villas that overlook the most beautiful pink-sand beach and tempting turquoise waters. Located in the centre of Montenegro’s sun-drenched coastline, a short drive or sail from Budva or the Unesco-protected Bay of Kotor, the resort offers private access to Queen’s Beach, set in front of the Aman Spa and accessible via foot or boat transfer from the island.

According to News Agency Boka News, the presence of Sveti Stefan within the flyer was first noted by a citizen of Budva, Ljubo Filipović, who currently resides in the United States. He and his friends shared a photo of the flyer and expressed their enthusiasm that Montenegro had gained such a valuable promotion.

07 February 2019 - At its latest session, the Government of Montenegro passed the Programme for Stimulating Water Supply Projects in 2019, which foresees the allocation of 970.000 EUR to finance water supply networks construction and another 80.000 EUR for financing other obligations and needs in the field of water management.

The programme includes the construction of 31 water supply networks in order to create better living and working conditions in the rural area, as well as further development of agriculture. Priority was given to rural water supply networks, which were financed in the previous period, as well as new requests for water supply, submitted by municipalities.

Prime Minister Marković pointed to the significant continuous multi-million dollar investment of the Government in the overall infrastructure in local governments - road, communal, social as well as numerous capital projects. He reiterated that the Law on Financing Local Self-Government further strengthened the possibilities of municipalities, especially less developed ones, given the fact that this law has provided about 13 million EUR for this purpose.

"This is the relation of our policy towards the citizens, this is the contribution of the Government to the development of our rural areas and we want to ensure that citizens live better and develop their potentials," said Prime Minister Duško Marković.

Considering several items of the previous session regarding the Privatisation and Capital Projects Council on 1 February 2019, the Government passed the Decision on the Privatisation Plan for 2019 and adopted: the Report on the work of the Privatisation and Capital Projects Council for 2018 with the Report on the realisation of the privatisation plan for 2018, Report on realised investment and other activities under the Long-Term Lease and Construction Agreement referring to "Luštica Development" AD Tivat - Luštica Bay project for 2018, Report on realised investment and other activities under the Agreement on the Long-Term Lease of the Lastavica Island with Mamula fortress for 2018, Report on realised investments under the Decision on granting long-term lease of land on Luštica Peninsula - Herceg Novi for the period 16 December 2017 - 20 December 2018, Initiative of the Investor of the New Tobacco Combine AD Podgorica related to the resolution of the non-monetary role of the Government of Montenegro in AD "New Tobacco Combine - Podgorica" and Information on the fulfillment of the conditions for the return of the second bank guarantee to Turkey-based "Global Ports Holding" - buyer of shares of the company "Container terminal and General cargo "AD - Bar. Approval was given to the Decision of the Board of Directors on the selection of the model and initiation of the restructuring process No. 02-7220 / 5 adopted by the Board of Directors of HG "Budvanska rivijera AD - Budva" on 20 December 2018.

07 February 2019 - The excellent results of the Government's economic policy and the implemented reforms provided a quality basis for further business development, job creation and improvement of the quality of life of citizens, the meeting of Prime Minister Duško Marković and the most successful Montenegrin business people assessed. 

Recalling the economic growth of 4.9 percent for the nine months of 2018, which is among the largest in Europe, and the results of fiscal consolidation, Prime Minister Marković told business people that this year he wants to continue with similar growth rates, strengthen the fight against the gray economy, change laws to strengthen competitiveness and eliminate business barriers and increase the efficiency of administration. 

The Prime Minister said that the consistent application of the law is important and that part of the challenges faced by business people stem from bad practice and inadequate application of the rules. 

Business people have said that the government has done a lot to improve the business environment, but that there are still specific challenges to be addressed. Prime Minister Marković and business people agreed that an intense fight against the gray economy is necessary for the areas of tourism, construction, trade and the labor market. Prime Minister Marković also talked with business people about the necessity of increasing salaries and improving the working conditions of private sector employees and how this can be achieved. 

The Prime Minister told business people that the state never paid more money for development and business, and reminded that the capital budget of EUR 320 million was the largest since the independence renewal. 

"There is money and opportunity for work. We have to organise ourselves to use them and turn them into a common good," Prime Minister Marković said. 

The meeting was also attended by Deputy Prime Minister Milutin Simović, Finance Minister Darko Radunović, Economy Minister Dragica Sekulić, Minister of Sustainable Development and Tourism Pavle Radulović and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Investment Development Fund Zoran Vukčević.

07 February 2019 - The open call for grants under the 2nd call for proposals for the 2014-2020 cross-border cooperation programme Montenegro – Kosovo was published on 15 January 2018 and will last until 15 April 2019, as noted by the Government of Montenegro. 

For all interested parties, the application package is available on site of the Government of Montenegro.

Information sessions for 2nd Call for proposals will be held in Kosovo and Montenegro in the following schedule: 

Kosovo: 

Đakovica, 26 February 2019, Hotel "Carshia e Jupave" Agenda

Peć, 27 February 2019, Hotel Dukagjini Agenda

Montenegro: 

Kolašin, 28 February 2019, Four Points by Sheraton Hotel Agenda

Ulcinj, 1 March 2019, The Long Beach Hotel Agenda

If you want to participate in events that will be organised in Kosovo, please confirm the participation of your organisation/institution by sending a completed application form to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by Tuesday, 19 February 2019 by 3 PM at the latest. 

If you want to participate in the events that will be organised in Montenegro, please confirm the participation of your organisation/institution by sending a completed application form to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by Thursday, 21 February 2019 by 3 PM at the latest.

During October 2018 Defence Minister Predrag Bošković met with Kosovo's Minister of Defence Rustem Berisha, Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj, and President Hashim Thaci.

Defence ministers Bošković and Berisha emphasised that this visit is the cornerstone of the future improvement of the defence cooperation between Montenegro and Kosovo, but also another significant indicator of readiness to contribute to the continuous development of good neighbourly relations, as well as the preservation of stability and peace in the entire region.

07 February 2019 - Thanks to Stefan Marković’s three-pointer in the final minute, and Jordan Mickey’s incredible performance, Khimki Moscow Region escaped from Podgorica with a tight win, after defeating Budućnost VOLI, 90-98. Khimki currently sits in the 12th spot with a 9-13 record and is still in the fight for a playoff spot.

With three minutes remaining, the game was all tied at 80. Norris Cole scored a crucial three-pointer, and Goga Bitadze put up four points to put the hosts up by two points (87-85). Jordan Mickey, on the other hand, also made huge free-throws down the stretch and tied the game yet again at 87 with a minute remaining. With 48 seconds on the clock, Marković came up big and knocked down the most important shot of the contest (88-90). Mickey scored yet another basket, and since that point, the game was over.

Mickey had a phenomenal game for the visiting team. He was one-point shy of his career high, as he put up 25 points (7/9 2FG) and four rebounds. Besides, he also came up big in the final minutes of regulation. Jenkins added 17 points.

For Jasmin Repeša’s squad, former NBA champion, Cole, finished with a double-double of 20 points and 11 assists, while 19-year old prodigy, Bitadze, put up 17 points and seven rebounds.

Khimki’s head coach, Rimas Kurtinaitis, focused on the limited turnovers his team had on Thursday night: “First, I am happy that we had full control for 40 minutes. OK, for the first two quarters it was so-so. But especially the end, in the fourth quarter, it was really good for us, we played smart. One of the things we did better than other games was we made just seven turnovers. Usually, we have an average of 14, so this improvement helped us to win. [Shved] is coming in a couple of weeks, but for the moment we aren’t thinking that far. We have to think about just the next game and play all of them to win. That’s it. With that, maybe playoffs will come.”

The game was competitive in the first half, as both teams were playing great basketball, showcasing their offense. After 20′, the hosts had a one-point lead (46-45) in what was a high-scoring half. Bitadze and Charles Jenkins were leading the way for the two teams. Thanks to Jenkins’ offensive crescendo in the final minutes of the third period, Khimki went up ahead and had a three-point advantage to start the fourth-quarter (65-58).

Source: Eurohoops