DPM Ivanović hosts EBRD delegation

Podgorica, Montenegro (9 June 2016) – Deputy Prime Minister Petar Ivanović hosted today delegation of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), led by director Heinz Kaufmann, director for Western Balkans Holger Muent and head of the EBRD Resident Office in Podgorica Giulio Moreno. Agriculture, tourism, energy and transport infrastructure will be at the focus of future cooperation between EBRD and Montenegro, given the potential these sectors have for the overall development of the Montenegrin economy and the results of already initiated priority projects.

The officials pointed out the need to continue to support private sector through growth of standards and competitiveness. Special emphasis is placed on education and training of young people who will apply new knowledge in business.
Head of EBRD for Montenegro Moreno thanked the Deputy Prime Minister for a very successful cooperation between EBRD and the Ministry of Agriculture in the past three and a half years. Moreno pointed out that EBRD recognises Montenegrin agriculture as reliable in terms of investing in further development and it will have a significant place in the new strategic framework for cooperation with Montenegro.

EBRD Director for the Western Balkans Muent pointed out that the new strategy will be based on strengthening the private sector, particularly in agriculture and tourism, as well as on connecting the two sectors to develop local economies. According to him, projects of exploiting energy potentials of Montenegro and the development of transport infrastructure have also been recognised as competitive and as prerequisites for faster economic growth.

DPM Ivanović reminded on the positive trends in agriculture related to the growth of this sector in the production and export and its share in GDP. He pointed out that the results have been achieved thanks to the change of the development concept from agrisocial to agribusiness concept, as well as the intense process of educating farmers. Therefore, support to further education and increasing knowledge level, particularly of young people, is one of the most important segments of future cooperation.

Talking about Montenegro's competitiveness, DPM Ivanović informed EBRD delegation about Government's activities on the establishment of the Council for Competitiveness, which will work on identifying competitive field and reviewing options for the implementation of specific projects that will bring new jobs and increase production. The Deputy Prime Minister also presented the projects through which significant funds granted by the EU are available to Montenegrin producers after the investment implementation, as well as limitations due to poor banking support. EBRD representatives expressed their willingness to help in this area too.

The officials concluded that, after the priority areas for future cooperation were defined, EBRD and the government representatives would enter into a phase of more detailed consideration of specific projects.