National Conference: “How to reach sustainable development and ‘green’ economy in Montenegro?” in Kolašin

What: As we approach the key sustainable development event of the decade – the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development „Rio+20“, a two day national conference will take place in Kolašin, Montenegro, titled “How to reach sustainable development and ‘green’ economy in Montenegro?“. The Conference will be organised jointly by the National Council for Sustainable Development and the UNDP Montenegro, in cooperation with the Austrian Development Cooperation and the NGO the Greens of Montenegro.

Speakers at the opening of the Conference (April 24, at 2 p.m.) will be:
Igor Lukšić, Prime Minister of Montenegro
Predrag Sekulić, Minister of Sustainable Development and Tourism (will open the 1st session)
Rastislav Vrbensky, UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative to Montenegro
Branko Lukovac, NGO Greens of Montenegro

Time: 24 April 2012 (starting at 2 p.m.) and 25 April 2012 (starting at 9 a.m.)
Venue: Kolašin, Bianca Hotel

Note: Transportion for the media outlets will be provided – departure on 24 April at 11 a.m. in front of the Old building of the Government, at Jovana Tomasevica bb.

* * *

The conference will be tweeted live by the UNDP (@UNDP_Europe_CIS), the Ministry of Sustainable Development and Tourism (@MRTME) and the Government of Montenegro (@MeGovernment). Join the conversation by using the hashtag #RioMe and the official Rio+20 hashtag (#Rioplus20).

* * *

Participants in the panel discussions at the conference will be: Minister of Sustainable Development and Tourism, Minister of Finance, Minister of Economy, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Agency for Environment Protection and other representatives of the Government of Montenegro; representatives of the Montenegrin Academy of Sciences and Arts, University of Montenegro, University of Donja Gorica, Chamber of Economy, Directorate for Small and Medium Enterprises; representatives of the UNDP, as well as representatives of NGO and business sectors in Montenegro.

Aims of the Conference will be:

 To present, review and, if possible, for the first time reconcile the different interpretations of the terms sustainable development and ‘green’ economy in the Montenegrin context, which are two of the key topics of the Rio+20 summit;

 To receive proposals for the improvement of the Draft Expert Document that will serve as a basis for political platform for the participation of Montenegro at the Rio Conference. With the focus on sectors of tourism, energy and agriculture, this Draft document reviews three main questions – how to stimulate creation of ‘green’ jobs, how to ensure efficient use of resources and how to preserve natural capital, with special emphasis on climate change;

 To review advantages, frameworks and directions, as well as possible projects in Montenegro for the development of ‘green’ economy in the context of sustainable development which could be the best road towards accelerated development of the less developed areas of Montenegro;

 To provide an answer to the question “how the transformation towards ‘green’ economy can include the entire society, especially the poor and members of vulnerable groups.

Conclusions of the Conference will contribute to Montenegro’s preparations for the Third world summit, as well as to the upcoming revision of the National Strategy for Sustainable Development scheduled for the end of this year.


For additional information, please contact:
Milica Lekić, PR Representative of the Ministry for Sustainable Development and Tourism,
Tel: +382 20 446 347, Fax: +382 20 446 289, Mob.: +382 67 597 497,
E-Mail: milica.lekic@mrt.gov.me; Web: www.mrt.gov.me;

Ivana Vujović, Communications Assistant, UNDP Montenegro,
Tel: +382 20 22 55 33, ext. 118, Fax: +382 20 22 55 51, Mob.: +382 69 681 222;
E-mail: ivana.vujovic@undp.org Web: www.undp.org.me