Prime Minister Spajić meets with Bahrain delegation in Davos

Visa waiver for Bahraini citizens: A major boost for investments and tourism development in Montenegro

The first tangible steps toward enhanced cooperation between Montenegro and Bahrain have been achieved just two months after Prime Minister Milojko Spajić’s official visit to Manama. This was the key message of today’s meeting between Prime Minister Spajić and the Bahrain delegation on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos.

During the meeting with the Bahraini delegation, led by Minister of Finance and National Economy Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa and Chairman of the Labour Fund (Tamkeen) Isa bin Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, it was announced that Bahraini citizens will no longer require visas to enter Montenegro.

This decision is expected to have positive economic implications for Montenegro, given the significant interest from Bahrain in visiting and investing in the country. In this context, efforts are already underway to establish direct air connections between the two nations.

During Prime Minister Spajić’s visit to Bahrain in November 2024—the first high-level visit since diplomatic relations were established—a Memorandum of Understanding was signed with the Labour Fund (Tamkeen). Based on this agreement, initiatives to diversify Montenegro’s labour market and retrain its workforce will begin in the first half of 2025.

Requalification and training programmes implemented by Tamkeen have completely transformed our labour market. Today, 95% of Bahrainis employed in the private sector have undergone Tamkeen training, demonstrating the significant benefits for our domestic economy. We are eager to share our experience and expertise with Montenegro. Your visit to Manama was a crucial step in strengthening the cooperation between our two countries, emphasized Isa bin Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa.

The meeting also explored opportunities for Bahraini investors to enter the Montenegrin market, which could further enhance economic ties between the two nations.

Many of our companies are seriously considering investing and expanding their operations. We are cautious in choosing partner countries, but we see Montenegro as a reliable partner. The visa waiver will undoubtedly have a positive impact in this regard" said Minister Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa.

It was also noted that the upcoming visit of Bahrain’s Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Sheikh Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, to Montenegro will provide significant momentum for the realization of shared goals and the strengthening of overall bilateral cooperation.