DPM Simović and Turkish Economy Minister Zeybekci agree on need to amend free trade agreement as quickly as possible

Ankara, Turkey (16 November 2017) -- During his visit to Ankara, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Milutin Simović met with Minister of Economy of Turkey Nihat Zeybekci.

Having thanked the Turkish Minister for warm welcome, DPM Simović stressed the good economic cooperation between Montenegro and Turkey, adding that the 4th session of the Mixed Commission for Economic Cooperation between the Government of Montenegro and the Government of Turkey, which is in progress in Ankara, will create conditions for the implementation of new concrete projects.

Two officials agreed on the need to amend the free trade agreement as quickly as possible in order to create preconditions for its rapid application. They also agreed on establishing expert teams, which will define the necessary preferences.

Deputy Prime Minister Simović pointed out that economic cooperation between Montenegro and Turkey is high on the agenda of bilateral priorities, which has already resulted in the presence of the Turkish companies that recognise the economic and investment potential of Montenegro.

Series of bilateral meetings that will be held with the Turkish companies during this visit are an indication of Turkey's interest in the Montenegrin market, as well as the recognition of its potentials on the regional market.

Minister Zeybekci said that intensive talks that the two sides will have in the next two days will open up space for undertaking new positive steps towards further improvement of economic cooperation between Turkey and Montenegro.

DPM Simović also met in Ankara with President of the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) Serdar Çam.

Deputy Prime Minister emphasised the Government’s sincere gratitude for the Agency’s undertaken and planned activities in Montenegro.

"Government of Montenegro highly appreciates over 260 development projects in various sectors, worth around EUR 15 million, which TIKA has implemented since its opening in 2007 in our country. There are twenty more projects in terms of boosting infrastructure in the fields of education, health, agriculture, entrepreneurship, which are planned to be implemented," said DPM Simović. He added that he expects that a joint team for the preparation of a project for the revitalisation of the Montenegrin fisheries, as well as the procurement of equipment for food safety control, which has been set up upon the proposal of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Montenegro, will prepare projects efficiently and in the short term.

DPM Simović emphasised that projects that create new jobs are of particular importance, contributing to faster development of the north, transfer of knowledge and experience, and sustainable use of natural resources.

President of TIKA was pleased to accept the invitation of Deputy Prime Minister Simović to visit Montenegro and get acquainted with the projects in the field.

PUBLIC SERVICE OF THE GOVERNMENT OF MONTENEGRO