Press release: Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic meets with US Department of Commerce representative Paul Dyke

Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic has today met with US Department of Commerce representative Paul Dyke and his associates.

Prime Minister Djukanovic informed his guests of the ongoing developments in Montenegro following the restoration of dependence, aimed at raising the standard of living and achieving the countrys fundamental democratization and progress towards European and Euro-Atlantic integration. He underlined the importance the Government attached to creating a favorable entrepreneurial climate. By the same token, the Prime Minister asserted that Montenegro was an absolute leader in the region in terms of foreign investment per capita, which proved the success of its carefully designed economic system. The growing capital supply enables the selection of most important and most costly undertakings as priority development projects, including two highways, exploitation of energy resources and resolution of water supply, waste water and solid waste disposal problems. He introduced the tourism development projects scheduled for this year, announcing the Governments intention to finalize the privatization process by the end of the year.

Prime Minister Djukanovic welcomed the excellent cooperation between the two countries in defense and military spheres, confirmed by the invitation to Montenegro to join the Intensified Dialogue extended yesterday at the NATO Bucharest Summit. He voiced hope that the very good political relations would provide a considerable incentive in alerting US companies to investment opportunities in Montenegro, which would reinforce the strategic partnership between Montenegro and the USA.

US Department of Commerce representative Paul Dyke congratulated Montenegro on the invitation to join the Intensified Dialogue with the North Atlantic Alliance. He expressed satisfaction with the quality of political cooperation between Montenegro and the USA, saying that the purpose of his visit was to raise economic cooperation between the two countries to the same level. Special attention was placed on tourism, roads and power infrastructure projects. Mr. Dyke said he expected the achieved level of economic stability and security in Montenegro, along with future joint efforts, to result in the first major US investment in the country, which to his belief would bring new capital investments by US investors.

The meeting also considered options for further acquaintance of US companies with investment opportunities and entrepreneurial climate in Montenegro.

The meeting was attended by US Ambassador to Montenegro, H.E. Roderick Moore.