Government and businessmen together in promotion of domestic products – “Buy Domestic Products”

Podgorica, Montenegro (29 March 2018) -- The Government of Montenegro, in cooperation with the Chamber of Economy, and in partnership with retail chains and producers, is launching a strong campaign for the promotion of domestic products and services called “Buy Domestic Products”.

In meeting the launch of the campaign, a meeting of representatives of the Government, Chamber of Economy and producers was held today in the Chamber of Economy. The meeting was opened by DPM and Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Milutin Simović, Minister of Economy Dragica Sekulić and President of the Chamber Vlastimir Golubović.

DPM Simović said that willingness to work together on this important project is the only formula that guarantees success. “I am pleased that today we are thinking how to contribute together to the overall growth of our economy, and thus a better position of the producers and the success of entrepreneurial initiatives, all of which should ultimately contribute to the creation of a significant number of new jobs, and make the existing ones safer, more sustainable, better paid,” DPM Simović noted. He expressed the belief that the willingness and involvement of the tourism sector will be formally confirmed in the continuation of the project.

DPM Simović also expressed satisfaction with the great interest of all participants, which was confirmed by the full hall in the Chamber of Economy, as well as throughout Montenegro at conferences where development is being discussed.

In his opinion, the campaign “Buy Domestic Products” is not a campaign, but something that should be regular and continuous work of all partners in the project. He added that the decision of six major retail chains to be partners is a message of the best understanding of the need of this partnership, the need to clearly identify domestic products in the shops.

“The key position, I am sure, belongs to the consumer – the citizen. At the time when he decides to buy a domestic product, every citizen decides to contribute to the creation of new jobs, he decides to strengthen funds for further improvement of education, health, infrastructure, culture, sports and social care of those who need it. By purchasing domestic products, the citizen contributes to the growth of the competitiveness of domestic producers and, ultimately, the growth of his standard of living,” DPM Simović said.

Minister of Economy Dragica Sekulić said that Montenegro, as a member of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and a signatory to the CEFTA agreement, was conditioned that should not and can not favor domestic products over imported ones, but what it can do is make them more visible.

“What we can surely do is to show you, to be proud of what has been produced in Montenegro and to send two important messages to our citizens: all the domestic you buy in our shops remains in our country in the amount of 80%-85%, and all we buy helps our producers and companies to be better, to develop, helps people who work to regularly receive salaries. Because as you develop, so the state can develop,” Minister Sekulić said.

President of the Chamber of Economy Vlastimir Golubović explained that the initiative should contribute to better positioning of domestic products on the market and to raising the awareness of consumers – citizens and the economy – about domestic products and services.

The programme aims to animate the entire Montenegrin public: producers, retail chains and consumers. He recalled that a meeting had already been held with representatives of retail chains who unanimously accepted the initiative to support the implementation of the programme in their retail facilities, which would provide better visibility and positioning of domestic products.