17 January 2019 - The Government is focused on improving the quality of life of citizens, especially in Northern Montenegro. That is why 30% more money from the budget was allocated to Gusinje than last year – it was noted today at the meeting of Prime Minister Duško Marković and local leadership led by President of the Municipality Anela Čekić. 

The allocations from the Capital budget of EUR 1.34 million were envisaged for several projects in the municipality of Gusinje, of which the most significant is the landscaping project of Ali Pasha's springs, as well as the reconstruction and equipping of administrative facilities. 

Prime Minister Marković, who is paying a working visit to Gusinje, pointed out that EUR 200,000 was allocated for the reconstruction of local roads in the municipality of Gusinje, which is three times more than it was allocated earlier. 

He added that the key issue of state development is the issue of the development of Northern Montenegro. He recalled that the highest allocations from the Capital Budget are for the north, adding that there is no development without improvement of the infrastructure. PM Marković said that the least developed municipalities, including Gusinje, will be given more money from the budget, and in this context, he pointed to the new Law on Local Government Financing. 

The meeting assessed that it is essential that the Municipality and the Ministry of Sustainable Development and Tourism soon solve the problem of planning documentation in Gusinje because it is a condition for further development of the municipality, new projects, including school and sports hall, worth nearly three million euros.

Following the meeting, the Prime Minister and the President of the Municipality will open a municipal administrative centre of over 1,000 square meters, which cost more than EUR 1.2 million. The most significant part of the money, EUR 1.1 million, was provided by the Government of Montenegro, and the rest by the Foundation "Gusinje" and Montenegrin emigrants from the United States, and the Municipality of Gusinje. The new building will provide better conditions for the work of employees and better service to citizens, which is one of the priorities in the process of public administration reform.

17 January 2019 - The President of Montenegro, Milo Đukanović and UAE Education Minister Hussain bin Ibrahim Al Hammadi held a meeting at the initiative of the hosts, where special emphasis on the importance of education was pointed out.

The President informed the interlocutor with the modern achievements of Montenegro and its position in the region and pointed out that the deficit of new knowledge and the application of new technologies was recognized as a key constraint for the further dynamic development of the country. Without new knowledge, in close connection with the use of modern scientific and technological achievements, there can be no progress for any society, said President Đukanoviić.

"We know that UAE has made a strong step forward in this direction and that is why it is essential for us to use excellent friendly relations, among other things, for transferring your experience to Montenegro," he said. Long-Term response to this problem in Montenegro is a radical reform of education, which takes time, but in the meantime, it is also essential to work hard to overcome this problem. He informed UAE Minister Al Hammadi that soon, he would form a special fund that would provide funds for a number of the most talented students for the country's scholarship to study at the most prestigious universities in the world. Since the Emirates have excellent results, he asked the Minister to share experiences with Montenegro regarding this project.

With satisfaction with the meeting and the statement that he had the honor to be in Montenegro, calling it hidden diamond, Minister Al Hammadi elaborated on how they embarked on education reform at the initiative of Crown Prince Mohammed. He said that they went from scratch, knowing that this is a lifelong process, and that applies not only to the university but to the whole system, starting from the kindergarten. He announced that he had been directly involved in the implementation of the reforms before the appointment as Minister, especially at the Khalifa University, which in the meantime occupied the 145th place in the world list of universities, with the ambience to be ranked among the top thirty.

"The secret of our success is to know that the buildings we have built and the money we have are not values of crucial importance, but that human capital is the most valuable asset in our society," said Minister Al Hammadi.

Regarding cooperation with Montenegro, he stressed that there are many ways to make it quicker and faster. I can immediately offer scholarships for Montenegrin students at their universities, or accept groups of high school students from Montenegro to study in their schools. They are ready to accept a delegation from Montenegro these days, who would meet on the spot what they are doing in this area. Speaking about the model of education, he said that from the kindergarten to the university they introduced the subject of designing new technologies, which no one else has in the world. They are ready to work together with Montenegrin colleagues to master the master plan and to help us not repeat the mistakes they made in the process of education reform. Minister Al Hammadi also offered training to the teaching staff, which can very quickly deliver results. He also informed President Đukanoviić in detail about the establishment and functioning of the Fund for Scholarship Scholarships in the world and said that it is entirely identical to the way presented by President Đukanoviić for the establishment of a similar fund in Montenegro.

17 January 2019 - During the fifth session of the Bijelo Polje Municipal Assembly, the President of the Bijelo Polje Municipality, Petar Smolović, stated that the construction of the Ski Centre “ Cmiljača ”, worth 23 million EUR, should be completed by 2022.

This implementation of the “Cmiljača“ Project consists of two phases. The first phase includes works on the construction of road infrastructure, construction of base station with accompanying facilities, parking space, construction of electric power network, ski lifts, hydrotechnical and telecommunication infrastructure, about 3 kilometres of ski tracks and the purchase of necessary machinery and equipment. The planned deadline for the completion of the first phase is 2020.

The second phase includes work on getting enough snow on the skiing track. The planned deadline for the completion of phase two is 2022.

The President explained that the roadway connecting the Ski Center "Cmiljača" on Bjelasica with the main road M21 is the route Ravna Rijeka –Latinska kosa - Jasikovac –Cmiljača, which has the length of 15.5 kilometres.

Aside from the construction of the ski lift, the Ski Centre "Cmiljača" Project includes construction of the base station, according to the “project-build” system, with 1200 square metres. The base station will have 300 parking spaces, and the investment value of this segment of the project is 1.1 million EUR.

The value of the contract for the construction of the cableway is 7,988,000 EUR.

The ski lift will be 1140 metres long, with seven seats and a capacity of 2600 skiers per hour and 3 kilometres of ski slopes, with an average width of 40 metres. The deadline for the construction of the cableway is 18 months from the date of obtainment of the building permit. “We have yet to get the technical documentation for the artificial snowmaking system which will create 30 centimetres of snow during 60 hours with a humid temperature (-5 C °),” said the President during the Assembly.

Montenegro has launched the Project "Cmiljača" with the aim of creating the necessary conditions for attracting investors who will build the accommodation facilities and further develop the ski centre. The completion of the project will positively influence not only the growth of winter tourism within the country, but also the development of the whole northern region of Montenegro.

January 17, 2019 - Montenegrin seafarers remain in a somewhat unmanaged position, the Board of Management of the Montenegrin Seamen’s Union said. EU representatives warned that returning to the "white list" would not last as long as the elimination of the systemic causes of the maritime problem. The Union emphasized that seafarers make 12 percent of the state budget annually.

Good visits continued in January, so in the first week of this year, six thousand overnight stays were registered with mostly domestic guests in Zabljak.

"This year we had a noticeable increase in the number of guests from Albania, and there are regular guests from Serbia, but we also have a huge number of guests from Dubrovnik, Croatia, this year and certainly in this period of the winter season we have a large number of guests from China," said Miljana Pješivac from TO Žabljak.

There were no problems with the supply of electricity and water, and unlike the previous one, this season the snowfall was followed by the appropriate temperature, which was beneficial to the skiers.

"The only remarks were related to the non-organization of ski buses this year, which would transport skiers from the city center to Javorovača ski resort and Savin kuk free of charge, but we managed to realize it and close this issue successfully," added Pješivac.

In Zabljak, unskilled skiers can also try their traditional snowshoe walks. "There is plenty to experience and see, especially the part of Durmitor which is closed in the winter to say so, but with snowshoes, one can go to see that part in the real winter ambiance. What if we get tired? We can relax having tea or mulled wine," says Zoran Vojinovic from the Mountain Protection and Rescue Service.

From the municipality Zabljak, they promise an even better winter season next year. "The works on Savin Kuk Ski Resort, a new six-seater ski lift will start in the spring. Also, a snowing system will be launched in the spring so that we will be more prepared with the new infrastructure next winter," said Veselin Vukićević, President of Zabljak Municipality. Citizens of Zabljak expect the expansion of hotel capacities this year. The construction of the hotel Durmitor worth EUR 20 million is ongoing, while the military complex Mediteran is on a long-term lease.

Text by Marija Otasevic, on January 15th, 2019, read more at Vijesti

By implementing this project, Montenegro will make significant progress on its path to the EU by adopting the standards applied in the EU's internal market, enhancing the capacities of competent institutions and knowledge to take over membership obligations, said the Director of the Directorate for Investments, Development of Small and Medium Enterprises and management of EU funds, Radosav Babic, at a conference held today at the Center Ville Hotel on the occasion of the first meeting of the Board Committee.

With the support of IBF International Consulting from Belgium and the Ministry of Finance of Montenegro - Directorate for Financing and Contracting of EU Assistance (CFCU), the Ministry of Economy organized the first meeting of the EU Steering Committee "Technical Support for the harmonization and implementation of the acquis in the field of internal markets". The project is financed under the IPA II Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance and will last for 24 months and until November 2020. The objective of the project is to facilitate trade and the development of the internal market by the requirements of the European Union acquis in Chapter 1 - Free Movement of Goods and Chapter 28 - Health and Consumer Protection

Babic emphasized the great significance of this project, primarily through the contribution that will be made to the harmonization of national legislation with the EU acquis, within two important negotiating chapters - Chapter 1: Unrestricted movement of goods and Chapter 28: Consumer and health protection, which will provide conditions necessary for the full harmonization of Montenegrin products in the field of standardization, market surveillance and other segments related to the unrestricted movement of goods, while at the same time the quality and safety of products will be in line with the high requirements of the Union.

"In this way, the project has added value for the citizens, providing conditions in obtaining quality and safe goods. On the other hand, Montenegrin producers will be able to market their products on the EU market without any barriers and thus promote the Montenegrin economy, improving competitiveness," said the general manager.

In the framework of the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance IPA 2014-2020, out of the total budget of 270 million euros allocated for Montenegro, for projects aimed at strengthening the competitiveness of the Montenegrin economy and the business environment in accordance with the negotiation process, EUR 18.9 million was committed. In this part, the Ministry of Economy plays an important role in its efforts to create a suitable environment for the efficient functioning of the internal market as one of the basic conditions for improving the work of Montenegrin companies.

Within the framework of future IPA support implemented by the Ministry of Economy, it is planned to implement projects that are complementary to the existing entrepreneurship and business incentive programs implemented by the Ministry of Economy, with a special emphasis on support aimed at creating new jobs, supporting young people, women in business, difference, support for priority sectors, and further development of the business community.

Apart from Babic, representatives of IBF International Consulting Stefano Sedola and Matjaz Logar also spoke at the press conference.

The total value of the project is 1,167,400 euros, out of which EU funding is 90% and national co-financing of 10%. The project is being implemented under the Annual Action Program Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance IPA for the year 2014.

Text by CdM, on January 15th, 2019, read more at CdM

January 17, 2019 - The Agency for Construction and Development of Herceg Novi applied for funds through the IPA program for three multilateral projects, in cooperation with the local government and the Office for International Cooperation, as well as its associates from Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The new repair shipyard for super and mega yachts of the renowned Dutch shipbuilding company Damen and Porto Montenegro consortium in Bijela, could start providing their first services to customers by the end of this year. In the first three years of the new company's business, which is still run under the working name of Montenegro Yacht Services (MYS), more than 20 million euros will be invested, and Bijela will, if everything is realized according to plan, become a credible and competitive alternative to the so-called renowned service centers and overhaul yachting yards in France, Spain and the west coast of Italy.

This was said in an exclusive interview with "Vijesti" - the first one given to the Montenegrin media, by the executive director of Adriatic Marinas - Porto Montenegro (PM) David Margasan.

The Government and the Damen-PM consortium finally signed a 30-year concession contract for the economic development of the shipyard Bijela. The Dutch and PM have leased 198,294 square meters of land and 281,077 square meters of aquatorium. For this, MYS will pay an annual fixed concession fee of 123,303 euros and a variable fee of 5% of EBITDA (income fewer expenses without depreciation costs) of up to 5 million, i.e. 3 % for EBITDA new company exceeding 5 million euros. The plan is that in the first year of operation, the new shipyard will repair 14 super yachts (ships longer than 25 meters), while in the fifth year of operations, the number of yachts repaired will be 109. With 35 workers in the first year of operation, the MYS will grow to 300 - 400 employees in its fifth year, and the former shipyard for cargo ships in Bijela, will be transformed into a sophisticated technology center similar to the specialized yacht repair yards in northern Europe, capable of providing all types of the most complex refit and conversion works on super and mega yachts between 25 and 125 meters. The agreed prerequisite for the commencement of the work of MYS, which has already acquired about 2.65 million euros worth of facilities and equipment of the former Adriatic Shipyard Bijela (JBB), is that the French company Vlago, which was engaged by the Government, by March 2020 completes the environmental remediation of that area, which implies removing about 150 thousand tons of grit and contaminated soil from Bijela.

"The concession contract gives us the right to, if there is a possibility, MYS even before the completion of the remedy, can begin to work. Therefore, we intend to start with the organization of the entire system, hiring first workers and preparing to start certain types of overhaul services that can be carried on ships anchored in Bijela, without bringing them on the land from the sea, at the end of this year. So, we think that by the end of the year, we will be working on larger yachts that would be anchored at the main Jetty of the shipyard on its west side, on the part where previously the floating docks of JBB were located. The plan is to simultaneously offer to lift from the sea and service of small yachts that can be lifted on the coast by mobile cranes. It all depends on the ability to provide customers with the highest possible level of quality because a good reputation and its preservation are crucial for Damen.

When can you expect the arrival of a new floating dock?

"The floating dock will arrive in Bijela in the first half of next year. This is a brand new floating dock that Damen will build and for which the design is finished, and the purchase of building materials began. Namely, since the MYS will function in such a way that the yacht that is lifted from the sea will be brought to the docks, and then from the dock, by the special transporters on wheels, shifted to the operational shore or to the workshops, the new floating dock must have a very sophisticated ballasting system to maintain its stability and stability in the raised yachts at sensitive moments of changing load and stability while the yacht is "dragging" from the dock to the shore and vice versa. Currently, there is only one such the so-called load out recovery dock in the world and is located in Qatar. In addition, our dock will also have internal tanks for the collection of water and material from the underwater dial of raised yachts, when they are washed with water under high pressure, in order to remove scrubs of the algae and shells, in order to keep all these materials on the docks and not in the sea, so it would be treated in the right way in accordance with the strict environmental standards applied by the MYS.

We have already planned the position at which the floating dock can be temporarily located and used until the remediation of the shipyard's premises is completed. In the meantime, the necessary construction works will be carried out to put the dock on its permanent position, as well as strengthen the operational shore and the plateau within the shipyard so that they can withstand the heavy load of "walking" on them by the transporter, with the ships of hundreds of tons weight. The new dock will have the lifting capacity of 3,000 tons and will be a modular construction, which means it will be subsequently extended, by simply adding new sections, so it can be extended up to a total length of 150 meters and increased in its power of lifting to 7,000 tons. Later, the shipbuilding capacities will be completed by building new travel lifts.

 An animation of the future look of the shipyard in Bijela - Damen

In the business plan, MYS will concentrate on overhauling yachts of steel and aluminium, over 30 meters in length. Does this mean that you eliminate the possibility of overhauling small yachts made of composite materials and wood and deny yourself of a good part of the market because precisely such yachts are now prevalent in Montenegro?

"Yachts below 30 meters are not our main target market for the future development of the MYS. We did not, however, exclude the possibility of overhauling smaller fiberglass or wooden boats as specialists-subcontractors can do it at moments when we have free capacity. There are more and more large yachts made of fiberglass, even up to 40 meters long, built in the world, so there is no reason why they would not work on such wooden boats or ships. However, after all, it is not a large market and a revenue generator, so the economic base and the main part of the MYS business will be larger yachts of steel and aluminum. As the main source of work, at least initially, we count on yachts that reside in Porto Montenegro, as well as other marinas in Montenegro because marinas are built in Lustica Bay and Portonovi. Also, having in mind the competition in the West Mediterranean and the Adriatic coast of Italy, and the number of mega and super yachts that are currently floating in the Mediterranean, we count on some 375 larger yachts from all over the Mediterranean as potential clients of the MYS. Only Amel’s superyachts in the Mediterranean are now about 50, and since they are the Damen brand, it is logical to expect them to use the services in the warranty period or maintenance and overhaul during the non-warranty period in the only Damen shipyard in the region - in Bijela. We will be a repair hub for Amel’s yachts in the Mediterranean."

 Will the new shipyard, except for yachts, be available for any other type of vessel - perhaps for the overhaul of Montenegrin Army naval vessels or vessels of the Government institutions in Montenegro?

 I am confident that MYS will be delighted with the opportunity to, for example, finish or repair the School Naval ship “Jadran” by the Montenegrin Army, because the beauty and significance of this ship is at the same time an excellent point in the reference list of each ship rebuilder. That's why we would always find places and time and enthusiasm to repair "Jadran". However, from the very beginning of this project, we have taken the stand that MYS will not be a "hybrid" shipyard that will repair cargo, warships or any other boats, except yachts. It will solely be a shipyard for yacht repair and conversion because only in this way can we guarantee the highest level of quality of our services for yacht owners.

"How do you think that Damen and its existing cooperators around the world will influence the development and capabilities of the new shipyard in Bijela?

"We believe that the main value of the new project in Bijela is reputation and quality, which in the world is called by the name Damen. Their globally recognized skills in the domain of construction, build and overhaul of all types of boats, and especially mega and super yachts through their brand Amels, one of the three strongest in the field of yachting in the world, make Damen's arrival in Bijela not only great news for Porto Montenegro but also Montenegro as a whole. That is, it opens a whole new set of possibilities for the progress and development of the Montenegrin economy, the revitalization of the activities of the ship repair, which has a great tradition in the Boka Bay, and the expansion of clusters of Montenegrin companies that in the future would, if the extremely stringent quality conditions, prices and deadline required by Damen are to be met,, could have their products and services included in the chain of MYS subcontractors. We want people to talk about the Adriatic in the future as the new Riviera (Cote d'Azur in France and part of the Tyrrhenian coast of Italy - prim.aut.) as a main point of yachting. Things in the industry are already slowly moving from the Western Mediterranean eastward, and Montenegro and Croatia, above all, are becoming more and more interesting as destinations for yacht berths, i.e cruise. With the partners from Croatia, Serbia, Slovenia and Montenegro, we have already launched the Adriatic Yachting Association of AYA with the aim of enhancing the yachting service in the region through a better connection of the prominent companies, working jointly, supporting partner companies and becoming a lobbyist in the Mediterranean. There is no reason why the Adriatic at some time in terms of yachting will not become equal to the Riviera. A very important step in this process is the increase in the global world about the technical capabilities of the Adriatic region in the field of overhaul of mega and super yachts, through Damen's arrival in this region and through the project in Bijela."

In the Business Plan, you state that MYS should be a credible alternative to ICOMIA's super-yacht repair service from the Western Mediterranean, but also to a much closer and "dangerous" competition on the Adriatic coast of Italy, such as the ISA in Ancona. How do you intend to achieve it?

"Against the competition, we will fight with quality, respect of deadlines and available budget, and reasonable prices as well as, of course, the reputation Damen enjoys around the world. From the engineering and technological point of view, MYS does not deal with overhaul yachting yards in the Western Mediterranean, but with those in northern Europe - the Netherlands and Germany, which are world leaders in that domain. Our goal is to bring the North European quality benchmarks in the Mediterranean through MYS, and with a partner such as Damen, we can achieve this. Their shipyards are located all over the world, and they managed to create an appropriate work ethic and attitude in the business, even in countries where there was not much of these such as Vietnam or Romania. I am 100 percent confident that Damen will do the same here in Montenegro because it only does not make sense that Damen operates a shipyard or a facility that does not provide services to the highest standards and the highest level of quality. Although people are joking here, including your premiere, with the alleged Montenegrin laziness as workers, my experiences are quite different - I personally saw that, when given the right opportunities, the local people are very valuable and happy to be able to express themselves in the right occasion.

I do not see the reason why this would not be the case, especially because the people working in the technical and shipbuilding industries generally have a different psychology and access to work, especially if they come from the domain of the industry that has been working for military needs, as it was often the case on the territory of former Yugoslavia. The level of discipline and work ethics for such companies is such that you can not often find it in classical civilian companies, and here, fortunately, we still have a lot of such people who used to work for example, in Arsenal in Tivat. They and workers of the former Bijela shipyard with global training programs in their shipyards around the world, offered by Damen and its subcontractors, will certainly be able to meet the needs and requirements of MYS. The main and most frequently mentioned topic I hear when I talk to Damen partners about MYS is training of the staff, and I am sure that we will succeed in doing so with people who are still here and have those skills, as with people from Montenegro - from Arsenal or JBB who have gone abroad to work in Singapore, Dubai, to Northern Europe and who will want to return and do the job in their own country. To begin with, they will, of course, work with some foreign experts who will be employed by Damen, but as the skill level of domestic engineers and masters grows, this attitude will slowly change in favor of domicile workforce."

Can MYS contribute more to the progress of the Montenegrin economy and the development of the capacity of domestic, now almost non-existent industries?

"Damen will lead the shipyard, and they are the ones who will evaluate what and how is the best way to make this company meet the basic and key criteria according to which Damen operates - high quality, fair prices and good planning, i.e. strictly fulfilling the deadlines. The goal for them and us is that, when a new shipyard is opened, it provides absolutely the highest quality yacht repair services throughout the Adriatic region. There must be no compromise on the short run, as this could cause irreparable long-term damage to the whole venture. It is undoubtedly that the new shipyard, however, will want to cooperate with local subcontractors and suppliers wherever possible, because it is simpler and cheaper, but it is for local suppliers and service providers to bring their offer, materials and services to the required level of quality so that they could work with Damen. All who can do it, are more than welcome."

Text by Sinisa Lukovic, on January 16th 2019, read more at Boka news

16 January 2019 - The culture, aesthetics, and traditions of China, one of the oldest civilizations in the world, will be presented to the Montenegrin audience through the Week of Chinese Culture. The program will be organised in Podgorica, from January 16 to 23, in the organization of the Embassy of the People's Republic of China.

The cultural wealth of China will be presented through three thematic units - Chinese Movie Week, National Symphony Concert and two-day Introduction to Chinese intangible heritage.

From January 16 to 22, the Cineplexx Cinema at the Delta City Mall will screen one of the best Chinese films every day at 6 pm.

The first film which was screened is the rewarded drama "Aftershock," which the audience has had the chance to watch on Wednesday. On Thursday, the visitors were able to see the film "Internal Affairs." “Youth” will be screened on Friday, while on Saturday the audience will be able to enjoy the cult film from 1993, "Farewell My Concubine." The Sunday projection is reserved for the romantic comedy "Love is not blind."

On Monday, January 21, a film that won four Oscars, "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon," will be screened at the Cineplex Cinema. The Chinese movie week will end after the screening of the film which was partly shot in Montenegro, "The Golden Job," which is on the repertoire on January 22.

The Chinese National Symphony Concert will be held at the Montenegrin National Theatre on Thursday, January 17. On this occasion, Chinese artists gathered in the Gansu dance troupe will enrich the program with music and dance performance, introducing the audience with the culture from different parts of China. This troupe is the creator of the masterpiece of the Chinese dance theatre called “Silk Road”, which will be performed for the Montenegrin audience.

The Chinese Culture Week will end with the closing of the two-day manifestation - Introduction to Chinese Intangible Heritage. In the central atrium of Delta City Mall, during January 22 and 23, the customs and heritage of the city of Guangzhou, the cultural centre of Southeast Asia, will be presented.

Visitors will be able to get acquainted with the process of creating many famous Chinese handicrafts, such as colourful figures made of rice, festive lanterns made of paper tape, as well as with ancient painting skills, stone carving, incense burning and tea drinking, which all have an essential place in the culture of China.

The entrance to all events is free, but due to the limited number of seats, it is necessary to reserve tickets for the institutions hosting the events (Cineplexx and the Montenegrin National Theatre).

By marking the Chinese Culture Week, the Embassy of the People's Republic of China strives to contribute to further understanding of the Chinese customs by the people of Montenegro. The Chinese Culture Week is organized as an overture to the Chinese New Year, the most important traditional Chinese holiday, which begins on February 5, 2019.

Source: TVCG

16 January 2019 - Prime Minister of Montenegro Duško Marković and the President of the Municipality of Gusinje Anela Čekić opened a new municipal administrative centre with more than 1,000 square metres, worth more than 1.2 million EUR.

"This is truly a nice and functional facility for the accommodation and operation of the local administration, but also better services to the citizens of the Municipality of Gusinje. At the same time, today we talked about everything that we did in 2018, both from the budget of the local government and the capital budget. We can all agree that we completed a lot of work, but it is also of great importance to continue to improve communal, social and other aspects of infrastructure in the municipality of Gusinje," said the Prime Minister.

He added that the Government increased the capital budget for the Municipality of Gusinje to the amount of 1.3 million EUR this year, that the revenues of the Municipality of Gusinje were significantly increased on several grounds and that the Government plans to implement the Municipality Development Plan in the close future.

"Today I leave Gusinje extremely encouraged with the results I have seen. The actual results and the motivation of the representatives of the local administration of Gusinje are definitely more significant when I visit the city and determine the outcome myself. I can only conclude that it is imperative to talk to people in the field in person," said the Prime Minister.

Duško Marković is personally supervising the program of "economic citizenship". When asked to comment on the implementation of the program of acquiring the citizenship of Montenegro with investment, the Prime Minister said that this was a program aimed at securing private capital for the development and valorisation of resources and strengthening the country’s economy.

"You can see that the state allocates a significant part of the budget for development, but that is not enough and it's not right that only the state affects development with its money. We should create the possibilities of greater development with private capital, and for that reason, we launched the program of economic citizenship for investment purposes. Therefore, anyone who is, according to the rules we have defined, ready to invest in a project approved by the Government in the country, will receive the citizenship. With the new investments, projects will be developed; new jobs will open, wages will increase, we will reduce unemployment and of course all citizens will live better. That is the goal of this program. I am personally interested in the program being implemented in such a way and with that effect. If at some point we estimate that no such effect is induced, we will suspend the program. The goal is development, new jobs and higher quality of life of citizens. Anyone who is interested, even our people in the diaspora who do not have our citizenship, if they are ready to invest in a project in the country, will have the same opportunity like everyone else, "said Prime Minister Duško Marković.