14 November 2018 - The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Montenegro and the Forestry Department are implementing a campaign of afforestation throughout the territory of Montenegro, symbolically implemented under the slogan – “One tree for each citizen of Montenegro”.

During autumn, the afforestation plan is to plant 630,000 seedlings of autochthonous species throughout Montenegro. In the framework of numerous activities for preserving and improving forest resources, the Government has committed 200,000 EUR for this particular segment.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Milutin Simović, has also participated in the implementation of this action in Bijelo Polje. During this afforestation campaign, Minister Simović concluded that “the action of afforestation - 630 thousand seedlings - One tree for each citizen, aims to awaken the widest social energy and, with concrete action, to show shared care and responsibility for preserving precious natural resources such as forests”.

Aside from the representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Montenegro and the Forestry Department, the list of participants of the afforestation campaign also included the representatives of the local Government of Bijelo Polje, led by the President of the Municipality Petar Smolović, representatives of the Association of Private Owners of Forests from Bijelo Polje, the concessionaire "Šik Lim", representatives of hunting organizations of Bijelo Polje and Petnjica, pupils of the Secondary Vocational School in Bijelo Polje, as well as representatives of several non-governmental organizations. The participants expressed their satisfaction with the opportunity to contribute to the protection and conservation of forests, and thus to protect the environment and conditions for a better quality of life.

The action "One tree for each citizen of Montenegro" is being intensively implemented for two weeks at defined locations throughout the country. The Ministry has allocated 17 motorized seedling planting machines to all district units of the Forestry Department, which will significantly contribute to more efficient and quality tree planting.

November 14, 2018 - After they embark another 16 cruising ships by the end of November and 14 in December, the Port of Kotor will end another successful season.

In the words of Director Branko Kovacevic, Montenegro's response to the request for the award of the concession for the port area to this company has not yet arrived.

Company "Port of Kotor" submitted to the Ministry of Traffic and Maritime Affairs a request on October 1 for the award of the concession for a period of twelve years for the port area.

"Port of Kotor" is listed on the "white list "of taxpayers, and has recently been listed on the "B" list of Montenegroberza due to transparency and performance in business.

Only in 2017, in the name of a tax on a variable basis, the budget of Montenegro paid the amount of EUR 593,612 and the dividend to the state and municipality amounted to EUR 321,598, totaling EUR 915,210.

Source: Radio Kotor

November 14, 2018 - The public enterprise Sea Property supported the activities of the Municipality of Tivat and the competent inspection services on the removal of illegally built facilities on the planned route, with the aim of successfully carrying out works on the construction of the first phase of the coastal promenade - lungo mare in Krašići.

As stated by Sea Property, a 400m long walkway project is realized through the cooperation of this company and the Municipality of Tivat, according to the Joint Financing Agreement on Lungo Mare Construction in Krašići

"The public company participates with funds of 185,000 euros, while the Municipality of Tivat is the carrier of the project's realization activities," the statement says.

As a reminder, the Joint Financing Agreement, initially for the preparation of project documentation and an environmental impact assessment and then investing in the first phase of the construction of the promenade, was signed by the Public Company and Tivat Municipality by the end of 2016.

"We emphasize that the example of removing illegal objects in Krasići is a real indicator of public interest in the first place - building a modern promenade that will make the Krašići coast more beautiful and enjoyable for locals and more attractive for visitors and tourists," said Sea Property.

November 14, 2018- NGO “Matica Boke”, in cooperation with the Serbian Consulate General in Herceg Novi and the company Porto Montenegro, will celebrate the centenary of the Austro-Hungarian fleet delivered to the Yugoslav Royal Navy. The event will be held on Friday, November 16, at 7pm at the Maritime Heritage Collection of Porto Montenegro.

On October 31, 1918, a charter was handed over to Pula, where a significant part of the fleet was stationary at the military naval Arsenal in Tivat. Tivat journalist and publicist Siniša Luković will talk about this event.

In cooperation with the Serbian Consulate General in Herceg Novi, a projection of the documentary film "Forgotten Admiral - Ernest Troubridge" is planned. The film features a biographical story of Britain's Admiral Ernest Troubridge, who arrived in Belgrade in 1915 and as commander of the British mission on the Danube along with the Serbs opposed the attack on Serbia

The film produced by RTS in 2017 is based on the diaries of Admiral Ernest Troubridge, which he ran during his stay in Serbia, and where the most significant moments were recorded during the war with the Serbian army. A good part of this documentary about the British Admiral who later became the chief commander of the Alliance fleet in the Mediterranean was shot in London.

The film is titled in English. The entrance to the event at the Maritime Heritage Collection in Porto Montenegro marina is free of charge.

November 14, 2018 - The ceremonial session of the Assembly of the Capital Cetinje, on the occasion of the 74th anniversary of the liberation of the town, was held today at Ivan Crnojevic Hall in the Government House. Summing up between two holidays, the Mayor of Cetinje Aleksandar Kašćelan said that the process of fiscal consolidation has begun, that the measures of saving and rationalization have been initiated at all levels, that conditions have been created for new investments and attracting of new investors.

Kašelan, as the key projects for the development of the town, cited the rationalization of projects envisioned by the Capital Development Plan for 2019. 

"In the first place, it is meant to finally solve the problem of water supply for which the planned investment is about 4 million euros. It is also important to continue the construction of town roads, complete the reconstruction of the abyss, but also to create conditions for new employment through the purchase of the former Obod. We see it as a development resource that could be put into operation as a unique business zone where, in cooperation with domestic and foreign investors, small and medium enterprises will be opened for which certain interests already exist," Kašćelan said, adding that the priority and the purchase of space at Studentski Square, in order to use this locality for the rebuilding of the hotel “Lokanda”.

He also stated that the continuation of activities on the improvement of rural road infrastructure, the continuation of the tourist valorization of the town, Rijeka Crnojevica and Skadar Lake is planned and the reconstruction of the former children's hospital. Kašelan said that a Memorandum of Cooperation was signed this morning with the Ministry of Education, which also envisions the construction of a gym for sports education in the elementary school "Lovćenski partizanski odred”. He also said that the renewal of state independence and the success in implementing internal and foreign policy priorities is the best indicator that we are worthy of our ancestors. "Proud of our town, its history, tradition, beauty, on this day, we continue to fill the pledge of the capital's liberators to build Cetinje as a prosperous place," he concluded.

The ceremonial session was opened by the President of Cetinje Assembly, Maja Cetkovic, who said that "freedom and name were lost after the end of the Great War in 1918 in front of the shut eyes of the victorious nations, we have been resurrected and re-paid for the new world conflict, when even in the same machine of the Allies, of even greater warfare, and better war and post-war luck, Montenegro was part of."

On the occasion of the marking Capital’s day of Cetinje, the delegation of the Assembly of the Capital Cetinje and the Association of NOR units placed wreaths on the memorial to deceased soldiers in Nova dzada and at the cemetery of Vlaska Church.

Text by Cetinjski list, on November 13th, 2018, read more at CdM

November 14, 2018 - Bearing in mind the realization of large infrastructure projects in the sectors of transport, energy and tourism, it is necessary to make a decision as soon as possible on the possibility of starting the cement production in Pljevlja and valorizing quality resources, which, for this purpose, this area is rich in, it was estimated at a meeting in the Chamber of Commerce Montenegro, which was attended by the President of this association, Vlastimir Golubović, and the Minister of Economy, Dragica Sekulić, with associates, representatives of the Ministry of Sustainable Development and Tourism, the Municipality of Pljevlja, the Electric Power Industry of Montenegro, the Coal Mine, Railway Infrastructure, the Faculty of Civil Engineering and prominent businessmen.

According to Golubovic, Montenegro imported cement worth 41,149,891 euros in the previous year, while in the first nine months of this year 39,043,241 euros were spent for that purpose. He also said that the Strategy for the Development of Civil Engineering in Montenegro by 2020 foresees building the capacity for the production of cement, with the full respect of the ecological standards of environmental protection and quality of life, as well as new capacities for the production of brick, gypsum, and additives.

The cement factory should be built in Pljevlja, according to the initiative, because this municipality is rich in marl, coal, fly ash and gypsum.

This would allow the valorization of marl which, in the exploitation of coal, is a waste. Using marls for the needs of the cement factory would reduce the area for the outlying landfills and the costs of coal production. The use of fly ash from TPP Pljevlja would substantially solve the problem of its disposal. An optimal valorization of coal with higher thermal efficiency would be achieved. As a basic energy fuel, coal from the Pljevlja basin would be used.

By building a factory of cement, and later other plants for the production of concrete semi-finished products and finished products, it would be possible to increase the road traffic, rail and port capacities. By opening a cement factory and through related jobs, it would be possible to employ 800 to 1000 workers.

PHOTO: PKCG

During the meeting, besides the economic benefits, it was also pointed to the ecological reasons, since the cement plant would also use the by-products of the Thermal Power Plant Pljevlja as a raw material. Businessmen believe that it is necessary to find an experienced and quality investor who, using modern technology, will make the best use of this raw material and be able to sell the produced cement quantities on the regional market in conditions of strong competition.

They point out that the old cement factory in Pljevlja, which has been working for 12 years, produced better quality cement than the competition in the region, that is, Dalmatia, Kosjeric and Kostolac. The divided opinions were heard whether the precondition for the construction and operation of cement factory is the realization of a railway line project between Bijelo Polje and Pljevlja. It was pointed out that the transport of cement to road traffic routes would lead to their possible rapid damage, but on the other hand, it was pointed out also the example of Kosjeric where the railways are not used for this purpose at all.

According to Sekulić, the project for the construction of a cement plant requires a serious private investor who could place Montenegrin cement on the market of the region or beyond. The investor is the one who should recognize the economic interest and ultimately whether the construction of the cement plant is acceptable. The model that the investor can elaborate can also involve the construction of the mentioned railway line. The state, he said, is developing an environment that is attractive for investment and will soon organize a public tender for expressions of interest and present the mineral resources available, which can be used for the production of the cement.

PHOTO: PKCG

"In this way, we will get feedback from the businessmen, about the willingness to invest as well as the possible models of using the mineral resources we have available. If the interest in investing in the cement plant is expressed, then the creation of documentation would involve the granting of marl for concession and specification other conditions whose fulfillment would contribute to the profitability of this business," Sekulić said.

Mirko Djacic, president of the municipality of Pljevlja, said that the undeniable advantages of a cement plant in terms of hiring people and using the by-products of the thermal power plant are there. He thinks that the most complex challenge is to find investors. According to him, it can be a strong private company or the state through the Coal Mine or Electro company of Montenegro.

The long-time director of the Coal Mine and the former cement factory in Pljevlja, Djordjie Dzuverovic, said that the cement from Pljevlja had very good results in terms of water-resistances and color that is suitable for natural-concrete - very demanded in the world market. He believes that for the construction of a new cement factory, it is necessary first to remedy the current ecological problems in that town by central heating with the source from the Thermal Power Plant. Director of Pljevlja Thermal Power Plant Vladimir Šestović said that ash, slag, and chemical gypsum are a big problem for this company and that the cement factory is a unique chance that all this by-product and marl from the waste-point Jagnjilo to be used as raw materials. Ljubisa Ćurčić, the director of Railway Infrastructure, said that this company completed the preliminary design of the construction of the railroad’s route Pljevlja-Bijelo Polje in the length of 56.42 kilometers. In the first years, it would transport 1.2 million tons of cargo, and later up to 1.7 million tons.

He believes that the construction of this railroad route is necessary for the functioning of the cement plant. Professor at the Faculty of Civil Engineering dr. Radenko Pejovic believes that it is necessary to speed up the processes related to the construction of the cement factory, and assessed that the opportunity for the business that was brought by the intensive construction in Montenegro was missed.

Text by Vijesti online, on November 13th, 2018, read more at Vijesti

November 14, 2018 - At the elementary school "Drago Milovic" in Tivat the first entrepreneurial classroom was opened.

Director of Elementary School "Drago Milovic", Ruzica Lazarevic, said that children had already made a number of interesting subjects on the tools and machines which the classroom is equipped with.

The entrepreneurial classroom was equipped with donations of a total of 1,750 euros provided by the Secretariat for Economic Development and Entrepreneurship of the Municipality of Tivat and the company "Fidelity Consulting".

The idea of the classroom was created during the visit of the elementary school "Drago Milovic" to the International Fair of Young Entrepreneurs in Berlin last year in February.

PHOTO: Siniša Luković

"We wanted to have a special room for work in our school, which would be equipped with all the resources needed for a small company that we created. The company is called "Jež" and this year it has about 30 members. The idea was presented to the Secretariat for Entrepreneurship which supported our efforts and financially helped to equip the classroom," Lazarevic said.

The "Jež" classroom is equipped with tools for processing metal and wood with shelves, tables, stove, sewing machine, and clay stoves.

The equipment was also partially donated by the management of elementary school "Drago Milovic", as well as janitors and teacher of fine arts education, Hana Mirkov. The water supply company JP "Vodovod" Tivat provided the drainage system.

This well-equipped space will enable teachers and children from the 1st to the 9th grade and realize creative ideas.

PHOTO: Siniša Luković

"It is also planned, with the help of the Parent's Council, to create prices for products from the existing bazaars and to continue selling them in an entrepreneurial classroom, with books that would be led by children with the issuing of bills, all in the interest of a better understanding of entrepreneurial learning. Children are extremely enthusiastic and creative, and primary education plays a major role in their direction and development of entrepreneurial ideas even at this youngest age. Entrepreneurship is high on the agenda of all EU member states and countries that want to join the Union, and the Europe 2020 Development Strategy is insisting that school curricula increasingly focuses on creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship development in children. Entrepreneurship is a dynamic process that requires visions, creations and changes, requires energy and passion, and this classroom is the right place for our children to experience and express themselves," Petar Vujovic, the secretary for economic development and entrepreneurship said. Teachers and professors, with their creative teams of up to 15 pupils at the same time, will use this space.

Text by Sinisa Lukovic, on November 13th 2018, read more at Vijesti

13 November 2018 - In the next ten years, the Regional Water Supply System for the Montenegrin coastline will widen its field of operation. The innovation will reflect in several appealing projects such as the export of water, a water bottling factory and construction of the tourism settlement at Karuč.

“Ever since the Regional Water Supply system was commissioned in 2010, all the requirements necessary for the sustainable functioning of the system in this region have not been fulfilled. There’s a great number of challenges that must be overcome. The fact that there are settlements where the water supply network has not been built yet is proof enough,” reads the document about the realization of the annual plan and financial results for 2017.

The majority of challenges refers to the provision of long-term, the sustainable functioning of the local water supply enterprises.

In the forthcoming period, the key part of the activities will refer to the reform of the entire water supply system at the seaside and at the national level.

“As the draft Reform plan indicates, the water supply system is practically unsustainable, and its comprehensive reform is of crucial importance. In addition, it is very important that the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the World Bank be directly involved in the implementation since the policy of these institutions is monitoring the projects they financed. Besides, they have all the necessary resources and complex expertise,” said the representatives of the Regional Water Supply system.

It is certain now that a unique enterprise, in charge of water supply and wastewater disposal will be formed for the region of Montenegrin coastline. Expected results surely are the business optimization, increasing the level of the quality of services and improvement of financial parameters. Regional water supply system is planning to start off implementation of the project whose estimated investment value amounts to 22 million EUR.

Another potential source of income will be the export of water by ships. The possibility of the construction of the water bottling factory is waiting for the adoption of several planning and strategic documents, starting from the final version of the feasibility study. If everything goes according to the plan, the factory is supposed to be located within the national park Skadar lake, outside the sanitary protection zone. This factory would also produce other types of drinks, such as iced teas and energy drinks.

Finally, Karuč, the former source of water supply will have a totally new function. It will become a tourism settlement.

Source: Cafe del Montenegro/Dnevne Novine

13 November 2018 - The Government of Montenegro has undertaken numerous measures of systemic control of river flows throughout the country, as well as activities aimed at preventing further devastation of river beds due to natural meandering and illegal exploitation of sand and gravel, and in the cases of illegal activities on watercourses, especially in the lower part of Morača and Bolje Sestre zone, said Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Policy and Financial System and Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Milutin Simović.

When asked whether the Tara River is endangered by the construction of the priority section of the Bar-Boljare motorway, the Deputy Prime Minister stressed that regulatory works are being carried on other positions as well, not only in the construction area. All these regulatory works are carried out with a view to regulating the river, saving the property of the citizens, and that this is a regular process and something that will be done in the future. The construction of such major infrastructure projects leaves certain scares on nature, but there are remedial projects implying temporary measures, and after that everything that belongs to natures will be brought back to it, he pointed out.

13 November 2018 - The concert of the Montenegrin Symphony Orchestra will be held on Thursday, November 15, at the Great Hall of the Culture Centre Tivat, starting at 8 PM, as part of the "November Days of Tivat 2018" event.

The Orchestra, which will be conducted by maestro Grigorij Krasko, and will perform “L'Arlesienne Suite” by Georges Bizet, "Waltz" and "Pas de deux" by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky, "Romanian Rhapsody" by George Enescu, "Adagio" and "Sabre Dance" by Aram Ilyich Khachaturian.

The entrance is free.

The Montenegrin Symphony Orchestra, as an institution of special social importance formed within the broadly established activity of the Music Centre of Montenegro, came to life in the year when Montenegro gained independence. Today, this ensemble, with all the important prerequisites, primarily in the aspects of material security and character of the internal organization, is basically similar to numerous professional institutions of this type in the world. The Montenegrin Symphony Orchestra has reached the level of a representative body of Montenegrin culture that puts Podgorica and Montenegro in the “rank” of numerous more developed cultural environments.

The first conductor of the Montenegrin Symphony Orchestra was young Russian artist Alexey Shatsky, who came to Montenegro from the position of one of the assistants of the legendary Vladimir Fedoseyev. During the first five seasons, along with numerous guest conductors, he laid the foundations on which Montenegrin young ensemble is developing today. The current head of the Montenegrin Symphony Orchestra is Grigory Krasko, an artist with a strong individuality and a huge experience, who has already made a remarkable contribution to the initial accomplishments and successes of Montenegrin ensemble as a concert-master and leader of the Montenegrin Strings Ensemble. The first performances of the MSO under his administration show the successful efforts of the orchestra to new performance challenges and professional standards.

Linking all who regard music as a necessity of everyday life has been and remains one of the strategic goals of the MSO. The Montenegrin Symphony Orchestra has gained a wide circle of friends and associates, among which the RTV of Montenegro, the Montenegrin National Theatre and Erste Bank, which has been the General Sponsor of the MSO for several years, are certainly distinguished.