Escobar congratulates on great results in consolidating public finances

Minister of Finance and Social Welfare Milojko Spajić, who is paying his first working visit to the United States of America, met with Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs and Envoy for the Western Balkans Gabriel Escobar.

The two officials discussed strengthening the strategic partnership between the two countries, as well as improving bilateral cooperation and economic ties. Minister Spajić thanked Mr. Escobar on his contribution and efforts to strengthen partnership between Montenegro and the United States.

Montenegro has outstanding potential and opportunities for accelerated development, especially now that it has consolidated its public finances and when we have economic growth of 13%. I am convinced that through excellent cooperation with the United States and the commitment of Mr. Escobar, we can additionally strengthen our economy and enable our citizens to achieve same living standards as the West, the European Union and the United States, said Minister Spajić.

Mr. Escobar welcomed the efforts of the Montenegrin Government and the Ministry of Finance and Social Welfare to recover the economy, which was hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, and congratulated Minister Spajić on the great results he has achieved in consolidating public finances. He pointed out that Montenegro has a partner and an ally in the United States, adding that the new US administration supports European integration and Montenegro's pro-Western foreign policy.

Minister Spajić presented the reform programme "Europe Now", which will enable raising the standard of living of all citizens of Montenegro, as well as plans for development in the field of FinTech and digitalisation. He stressed that economic stability and a better standard of living are key to overcoming artificial divisions and tensions aimed at scoring cheap political points and trying to keep Montenegro trapped in 30-year trenches from which political elites defend only their private capital acquired during decades of non-transparent and corrupt management of public finances.