Montenegro should be UAE’s strategic partner in Europe

Podgorica, Montenegro (13 June 2013) – Montenegro and the Uniteda Arab Emirates boast a good relationship based on close ties and friendship and they should be improved even further, concluded the meeting of Prime Minister Milo Đukanović with the UAE Minister of Economy Sultan Bin Saeed Al Mansouri that took place yesterday at the seat of Government in Podgorica.

Prime Minister Đukanović thanked the UAE for its support to Montenegro on a number of occasions, including development and natural disaster assistance. Mr Đukanović welcomed the first steps taken recently to boost business cooperation between the two states and noted he strongly believed the forthcoming meeting of the intergovernmental economic committee will do even more to enhance cooperation.

Recent investment by the Abu Dhabi investment fund in the construction of a massive project in Podgorica (dubbed the Atlas Capital Centre) can serve as a good practice for other joint projects in the future, the Prime Minister noted.

Minister Al Mansouri said he was very pleased to visit Montenegro and noted the country’s impressive development potential and welcomed the Government’s activities aimed at the overall progress of Montenegro.

Mr Al Mansouri underlined that the good relationship between Montenegro and the UAE will serve as a good basis for further investment projects, primarily in tourism and agriculture. He noted that the UAE government wishes Montenegro to be its strategic partner in Europe.

The two officials noted the importance of establishing direct flights between the two countries as a boost to further economic cooperation. Both sides agreed that the relationship between the two states has improved greatly since they appointed resident ambassadors.