PM Marković: Inter-state relations are excellent, it is up to business people to enrich them through better economic cooperation

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Shkoder, Albania (3 July 2018) --Prime Minister Duško Marković told business people at the Montenegrin-Albanian Business Forum in Shkoder following the joint session of the two governments that the relations between the two countries are excellent and that it is up to the business people to enrich them through stronger economic cooperation for which there are excellent conditions.

"Joint session noted a high level of political bilateral relations, especially in the context of the membership of the two countries in the NATO alliance, as well as in the process of integration of the two countries into the European Union, where Montenegro, as the state that has opened 31 negotiating chapters, is already ready to provide concrete support to the institutions of Albania by sharing experience and best practices in the process that is ahead of Albania. We also discussed the possibilities of using EU pre-accession funds for the implementation of cross-border projects, especially those related to the creation of better infrastructural, institutional, social and business relations between the two countries, which is at the core of the joint participation in the Berlin Process. At the next week’s summit in London, Prime Minister Rama and me, together with our counterparts from other Western Balkan countries and the European Union, will again be able to advocate for their implementation, aware of the importance of these projects for the overall economy of our countries," said Prime Minister Marković.

He added that the potentials of cooperation have not been fully exploited, and that more needs to be done in the coming period to create additional preconditions in order to facilitate better transport connectivity and speed up cross-border and customs procedures.

"I conveyed a message to Prime Minister Rama about the need for urgent resolution, in the spirit of good neighbourly relations, but also in the context of the membership of the two countries in the CEFTA and WTO, of a long-standing problem regarding non-tariff barriers, especially when exporting Montenegrin wines and beer to Albania," Prime Minister Marković explained, adding that the business community should be more aware of all the opportunities that are ahead of the two economies.

The Prime Minister also recalled the possibility of participating in NATO tenders for public procurement for business people from Montenegro who meet the set standards.

"Since 2010, the Ministry of Defence has allocated 160 company codes, codified 100 products, 60 for the needs of the Armed Forces. For the time being, industry, agriculture, agencies providing ports and freight forwarding services, organisers of congress tourism, software and other companies are getting the biggest benefits of this process in Montenegro. Codified companies from these sectors should establish closer cooperation using partnership and alliance in the context of NATO," the Prime Minister of Montenegro pointed out.

He added that in addition to Montenegro, Albania and Kosovo also saw GDP growth in 2017.

"In the end, I would invite Albanian investors to use a dynamic business environment in Montenegro and achieve their business objectives. Your successes in Montenegro are our successes. Today you will have the opportunity to get to know the opportunities for investing in Montenegro and the incentives that are offered to the investors at national and local levels. I urge you to forward your proposals either to the Embassy of Montenegro in Tirana and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, or o the Montenegrin Agency for the Promotion of Foreign Investments, and my Office. I assure you that the serious proposals will be supported by the institutions and the Government of Montenegro," Prime Minister Duško Marković concluded.

PUBLIC RELATIONS SERVICE OF THE GOVERNMENT OF MONTENEGRO