DPM Simović visits eight entrepreneurs supported by IPARD: Investments create jobs and secure work for thousands of farmers

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Milutin Simović, today in Nikšić visited eight entrepreneurs who successfully realised planned investments this year and received grants from the Ministry of Agriculture through the IPARD programme, which improved their production and competitiveness, opened a significant number of new working places and the possibility of expanding the cooperative network with Montenegrin farmers.

DPM Simović visited companies- meat industry "Goranović", meat processing companies "INMES-MARK", dairy farms "Srna" and "Nika", "Sirara Miljanić", the plant for processing and drying fruits "Montenomaks" in Ozrinići and slaughterhouse and meat processing plant "MINIKO" in Banjani, which this year invested a total of EUR 1,470,000, for which they received grants from the national budget and EU funds in the amount of EUR 620.000.

Nearly 4,000 jobs - result of  work perfomance of these companies

 "Prior to the realisation of these investments, 262 employees worked in these companies and 3.390 were directly connected to them. Realization of these investments, besides improving competitiveness, opened another 39 new jobs and opened new opportunities for expansion of the cooperative network. So, together, close to 4,000 jobs are related to the business operations and results of these companies. That is why they deserve to be visited, to get support, and to encouragenew development steps, which will also be the result of our partnership," the DPM Simović said at a press conference held during the visit, in Sirara Miljanić. DPM Simović emphasised the special significance of these investments for the Montenegrin economy because, as he said, they create a new value, they ensure business sustainability, valorise the available natural resources, creating and producing quality products that are a blend of traditional and modern, noting that some products, like which are the products of the meat industry "Goranović", have already received a European ticket, or an export number for the EU market.

"Their products are part of our ever expanding, increasingly content, increasingly recognisable, increasingly competitive palettes of domestic products, which are rightly causing increasing attention of consumers- domestic and increasingly numerous tourists, who in these products value the quality, freshness and geographical determinant of origin. Because of this, all these entrepreneurs deserve respect, which is clearly demonstrated by today's visit. Respect for the expressed entrepreneurial spirit, for all the risks and vitality they have shown in the game on a small and open market, facing large foreign companies, with the frequent appearance of various elements of unfair competition. Respecting, protecting and improving the openness of our market, we need to preserve, and improve our producers, preserving the jobs, protecting the interests of thousands of farmers who generate income in cooperation with them, " DPM Simović highlited. DPM Simović underlined that the success of these business entities did not arise overnight, nor is it accidental, mainly because of proven hosts, entrepreneurs who preserve and promote entrepreneurship and the tradition of working ethics for generations.

Encouraging investment results and plans

DPM Simović expressed satisfaction with the results of talks with businessmen, stressing that the goal of today's visit was to get through direct meetings with valuable entrepreneurs in Nikšić is a direct insight into all the challenges they face in business, to hear their vision of development and jointly designing future support programs,

"From this morning we visited five entrepreneurs, and we will visit the remaining three. I can already say that the results of these realised investments are encouraging, as well as development plans in terms of new investments, as well as in terms of expanding and strengthening the production programme and creating new jobs, " DPM Simović concluded.

In the procedure for the approval of another EUR 10.7 million of investments through IPARD in Nikšić

Realised investments this year worth about EUR 1.5 million and EUR 620.000 of non-refundable support through these eight projects, and they are just announcements of much bigger and more significant investments, at the end of this year and next year.

Recalling that the realisation of two public calls within the framework of the large IPARD, DPM Simović announced that 62 requests for investments amounting to EUR 10.7 million have been received from the municipality of Nikšić and more than EUR 5 million of non-refundable support.

"Successful implementation of these projects will be a very significant impetus for strengthening the agricultural sector in Nikšić and Montenegro. We believe that these successful projects and the generous support measures we have provided will be a powerful incentive for many other valuable hosts, especially young people. We undertook numerous activities that give concrete and measurable results, with the aim that as many citizens can proudly say that agriculture is their business - a lucrative and sustainable business, " the Deputy Prime Minister Simović assessed, who also invited media representatives to continue actively support the joint efforts of the Government and valuable entrepreneurs, which will provide new employment, create new values and improve quality of life.