29 November 2018 - The first transaction using UnionPay cards in Montenegro was made yesterday in Atlas Bank in Podgorica,  which is the first bank in Montenegro that enabled that the card of this brand be accepted at the ATM, POS and e-Commerce terminals. The transaction was made by Mr. Wei Zhihong, director of the International Market and General Director of China UnionPay for Europe. Atlas Bank AD Podgorica has recently obtained a cross-border license issued by the most significant Chinese Card Association.

“On behalf of the Embassy of China, I hereby congratulate you on this collaboration which would have  great effects as it will attract even more Chinese investments and promote cooperation between China and Montenegro,” said Mr. Liu Jin, the Chinese ambassador to Montenegro.

Mr. Wei Zhihong, director of the International Market and General Director of China UnionPay for Europe, said the beginning of the close cooperation with Atlas Bank is a very important event for UnionPay because Montenegro has become 40th country in Europe and  171st  country in the world that accepts UnionPay cards.

“The exchange between China and Montenegro in the field of investments and tourism has substantially increased. That is why there is a need for UnionPay to be in Montenegro,” said Mr Zhihong, and announced there would be even more intensive cooperation with Atlas Bank by introducing the services regarding card issuance, online payment, electronic wallet option, etc.

Until this date UnionPay International has issued 7 billion cards. Mr Zhihong added there are 23 million retailers in Europe who accept the payments via UnionPay cards, which comprises 60 percent of all retailers receiving the card payments.

“UnionPay is not solely the favourite card brand of Chinese citizens, but also more and more foreign clients are accepting it,” pointed out Mr Zhihong.

The President of Atlas Group Duško Knežević said that Atlas Bank continues to be the forerunner of the innovations in the field of digital economy, further developing the business activities with Chinese partners.  He emphasized that Union Pay, together with Alibaba and WeChat, is one of the financial symbols of China.

“We are proud to cooperate with them.  With the cooperation between Atlas Bank and UnionPay, the billions will enter into Montenegro, and the card has huge potential. After announcing the news that we got the UnionPay license, we received the invitations from one of the biggest corporations from Hong Kong and Singapore to establish the strategic partnerships,” said Knežević.

Atlas Bank as an innovator in the field of card processing systems  and digital economy, has recognized the promising potential the cooperation with the Chinese Card Association – China UnionPay or more specifically, with their international branch office – the UnionPay International carries.

Atlas Bank is the first bank in Montenegro which has established the cooperation with the UnionPay Company. After the initial Cooperation Agreement was signed on 22 November 2017, Atlas Bank commenced the process of formally joining this card association.

At the end of December last year the Membership Agreement was signed, and in June this year Atlas Bank received the authorization documents, by which it was officially granted all the permissions to accept the UPI cards at the POS terminals, ATMs as well as in e-Commerce network of Atlas Bank. Atlas Bank will, after the official commencement of the cooperation, work on the project of issuance of the UnionPay payment cards.

The guests at the ceremony and the cocktail reception were the representatives of the Embassy of China, China UnionPay, and UnionPay International as well as the representatives of Chinese companies doing business in Montenegro, the representatives of the Association of Montenegrin Banks on whose behalf Mr. Goran Radonjić addressed the assembled guests, and other representatives of governmental and economic institutions.

Source: Cafe del Montenegro

28 November 2018 - Executive Director of the Joint-stock Company Airports of Montenegro, Danilo Orlandić, has recently met with the managing directors of the Laudamotion Airline, Andreas Gruber and Colin Casey, in Vienna. Since Laudamotion will establish the Stuttgart-Podgorica-Stuttgart line from April of next year, the details of this line have been considered, but the main topic of the meeting was the potential launching of additional routes from Montenegro.

During the meeting, Orlandić highlighted how it is a great pleasure for the Montenegro Airports to establish a relationship with a company like Laudamotion. He also mentioned the line to Stuttgart, assessing that the route will be hugely successful, given the growing interest in Montenegro from the German market. Significantly, the representatives of the two companies opened the topic of launching additional routes. Orlandić expressed his hope that they will complete these negotiations. “We agreed that we would meet again in Podgorica at the end of the year when I hope, we will deepen our cooperation," Orlandić said.

It is well known that the low-cost airline is looking to develop its destination map. During the meeting, Andreas Gruber explained that with the airline’s concept of prices that are in the service of passengers and an unbeatable price and quality ratio, Laudamotion manages to satisfy the needs of passengers. “We are looking forward to seeing our enhanced presence in Stuttgart during the summer of 2019. We are pleased that from now, on we can offer flights from Montenegro. Establishing a new line between Podgorica and Stuttgart, to be maintained by Laudamotion will significantly improve the connection between Montenegro and the German province Baden-Württemberg," he said.

Laudamotion, the No. 1 low-tariff airline in Austria, was founded in 2004 as a provider of charter flights for executive travel, serving European and international destinations. Years later, the company was taken over by Niki Lauda, former Austrian Formula One driver and a three-time F1 World Drivers' Champion. Europe’s largest budget carrier Ryanair bought 75,1 percent stake in Vienna-based Laudamotion in 2018.

From its headquarters in Vienna, Laudamotion is oriented to the fastest growing base in Dusseldorf, Stuttgart, and Palma. This Austrian airline operates flights to 50 destinations in 18 countries.

28 November 2018 - Public Company Parking Service Podgorica recently acquired three new parking meters, which will be set up in the city centre, allowing visitors to the area to pay for their parking with paper bills and coins. Drivers looking for on-street parking in downtown Podgorica will no longer have to send text messages to different numbers depending on parking zones, nor will they have to pay for parking on the newsstands.

According to the report by daily newspaper “Dan”, by the end of the year, the parking meters will be installed at the corner of Hercegovačka Street and Sloboda Street, at Bokeška Street and the third location is yet to be determined. These are the more up-to-date models of the parking meters for which the Parking Service paid about 6,000 EUR per piece.

"If the weather conditions are favourable, we will set up three parking meters by the end of the year. To install the equipment, it is necessary to have good weather conditions. Two locations are already determined, and for the third, we are still thinking. The third location will be Vučedolska Street or Vuk Karadžić Street, " said Nusret Canović, director of the Parking Service Company.

Canović also said that these models of parking meters are newer, and the installment of the devices will be convenient for the citizens of the Capital and visitors. "The new parking meters enable payment for all three zones that we have, and the machines can receive paper bills. These are the parking meters of the newer generation. We’re installing these devices, not only for the citizens of the Capital but also for people coming from abroad. Given that they will be operating in multiple languages, it will be much easier for visitors to pay for parking services. These parking meters will certainly improve our services," said Canović.

Coming to downtown Podgorica will now be a little more convenient, and that will be welcome news because many people don’t like to send text messages to pay for parking services, nor they enjoy searching for the nearest newspaper stand.

25 November 2018 - There are significant advantages in using wind energy, which explains why it's one of the fastest-growing energy sources in the world. As an alternative to burning fossil fuels wind farm and its power is plentiful, renewable, widely distributed, clean, produces no greenhouse gas emissions during operation, consumes no water, and uses little land. Montenegro has recognized the benefits of wind power and decided to invest in a capital-intensive project of building the necessary station infrastructure.

After two years of construction of 23 windmills with 46 MW power, worth 40 million EUR on the hill between Bar and Ulcinj, Možura wind farm will begin producing electricity by the end of this month as part of the country’s efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions and meet the renewable energy standards of the European Union it aspires to join.

Speaking in a morning TV show of the public broadcaster RTCG, Minister of Economy of Montenegro Dragica Sekulić said that the Možura wind power plant is going to be operational by the end of this month, which will, according to her, significantly contribute to the stability of the electricity supply throughout the country. “According to the information we obtained from the investor, we expect the Možura wind power plant to be tested by the end of November,” emphasized Sekulić.

As the Minister explained during the interview, in 2016, Montenegro produced an output of 4 billion EUR, while a year later the economic growth accounted for 4,7%. In 2018, Montenegro also recorded an increase in its domestic product. Any production significantly contributes to economic growth, which is why it is especially crucial for the country to vary in methods of electricity production. The plan is for Montenegro not to depend on hydropower plants and the rainfall concerning electricity supply.

The state representatives have signed the contract in which it is stated that the purchase price of electricity produced in the wind farm would be warranted and fixed for the first 12 years of operation and would not be less than 95,99 euros per megawatt hour (MWh).

The Ministry hopes that this project, which most certainly has a safe future on the energy market, will encourage new investment in renewable sources.

22 November 2018 -  The Government of Montenegro passed the Decision on the criteria, method, and procedure for the selection of persons who can acquire Montenegrin citizenship by admission for the implementation of investment programme of particular importance for economic interest of Montenegro, as a development mechanism for creating new jobs and raising living standards of the citizens.

"The Government's decision was made with a view to accelerate the economic development of Montenegro further and attract investments that will create new tourism, agricultural and processing capacities, and new jobs, and improve the quality of life and the living standard of our citizens," Deputy Prime Minister Milutin Simovic told a press conference following the Cabinet session.

The Deputy Prime Minister noted that the citizenship by investment has long been recognised in many highly developed countries of the world as an essential mechanism for supporting the overall policy of attracting foreign direct investment and creating a competitive investment framework on a very demanding global market.

"The Decision will intensify the implementation of development projects and enable faster development of less developed municipalities. This programme represents an answer to the real needs of our economy and the need for its diversification. Therefore, the special quality of this Decision is creating opportunities for the implementation of development projects in several sectors - tourism, agriculture, and processing industry. Furthermore, this Decision is an expression of the Government’s commitment to implementing development projects in the whole area of Montenegro, both in the north and the south," Deputy Prime Minister Milutin Simović explained.

In his words, this economic citizenship programme and this Decision once again confirms that the Government is ready to create demanding programmes in line with the competitive global investment market.

"By attaining these goals, besides our key domestic need - dynamic economic development, we are also fulfilling the demanding economic criteria from our European agenda. Our domestic needs are best reflected by the fact that Montenegro at this time is at the level of 46% of the average EU development. We must improve the living standards of our citizens as quickly as possible and bring them closer to the level of the European standard. Therefore, we must not waste time by postponing decisions, which are useful and necessary and which create conditions for a better life of the citizens of Montenegro, especially those in less developed areas," the Deputy Prime Minister of Montenegro underscored.

Speaking about the process of drafting the Decision, DPM Simović said that the Government has established a sincere and open dialogue with the European partners.

"There were also certain doubts, additional inquiries about whether we are prepared to carry out such a demanding project in the right way - as did the EU member states that have similar programmes, not jeopardising our European path and achieving the goals of the Union. In the end, we understood the position of our EU partners that Montenegro should use its exclusive rights to grant citizenship, in the spirit of sincere cooperation and to refrain from any measure that could jeopardise the Union's goals. That is precisely our intention! Such a concept of the Decision and the defined programme implementation are the expressions of the Government's sincere cooperation, intentions and responsibilities, as well as complete restraint from any measure that could jeopardise further integration path of Montenegro and the goals of the European Union itself," said Deputy Prime Minister Milutin Simović. 

Minister of Sustainable Development and Tourism Pavle Radulović explained the criteria for selecting development projects and the conditions that should be fulfilled by the applicants, as well as the procedure.

"The programme is designed to last for a limited period and is limited to the granting of the Montenegrin citizenship to up to 2,000 applicants. The money collected in this way will be used exclusively for development. The procedure provides for the greatest possible transparency," Minister Radulović explained.

He noted that the State of Montenegro would be using the highest criteria for selecting special mediation agents who will be checking the international suitability of the applicant and will issue them annual licenses. The applicants will submit requests through an agent who had previously signed a contract with the State of Montenegro.

Speaking about the criteria for projects to be implemented in the field of tourism, Minister Radulović said that it about hotels or mixed tourist complexes in the coastal region and the Capital city of Podgorica: at least 5-star facilities, at least 60 accommodation units, with minimum investments of 15,000,000 and at least 80 new employees. For projects in the northern and central region, except the Capital City, the criteria are as follows: at least a 4-star hotel or a mixed tourist complex, at least 35 accommodation units, a minimum investment of five million and at least 25 new employees.

Applicants must pay 450,000 EUR to the account of the State of Montenegro for the projects in the coastal region and Podgorica, or 250,000 in the northern and central region except Podgorica, as well as 100,000 intended for less developed areas. Also, the applicant must deposit 15,000 for an application for themselves, 10,000 for up to 4 family members, and 50,000 for each next family member, the Minister of Sustainable Development and Tourism concluded.

Answering a journalist’s question, Minister Radulović said that he does not see any reason why the names of investors who have exercised their right to the Montenegrin citizenship are not available to the public.

22 November 2018 - The national carriers from the former Yugoslavia handled over 5,2 million passengers during the first three quarters of 2018. Croatia Airlines, Adria Airways, and Montenegro Airlines all recorded growth when compared to last year’s results, while Air Serbia's figures declined, with the airline also operating fewer flights.

Air Serbia continues to maintain its position as the busiest national airline in the former Yugoslavia, despite a drop in the number of passengers handled. According to Belgrade Airport's quarterly report, the carrier welcomed roughly 2,043,000 travellers during the first three quarters of the year, representing a decrease of 4,9%. The number of operated flights was reduced by 1,5% over the same period. The report suggests that the airline held a passenger share of 46,4% at Belgrade Airport. At the same time, foreign carriers recorded significant passenger growth amounting to 17,8%. Air Serbia itself is yet to publish any official operational results for the year so far.

Croatia Airlines handled a record of 1,705,470 passengers during the January - September period, which is an increase of 3,1%. Out of the record number of passengers, 412,420 travellers were carried on domestic flights, which is a growth of 1,4%, while 1,223,170 passengers flew on international services, an improvement of 2,5%. The remaining 69,880 passengers were carried on charter flights, which is a yearly increase of 24,4%. However, charters accounted for only 4% of overall traffic. The airline operated on 21,891 flights during the first three quarters of the year, which is a growth of 1,7% compared to the same period in 2017. The average cabin load factor stood at 73,7%, a fall of 0,5 points. Cabin loads were decreased on international flights by 0,2 points which is an average of 73,9%, while they declined 0,1 points to 72.4% on domestic services.

Adria Airways welcomed 982,597 passengers during the first three quarters of the year, representing an increase of 5,1%. The Slovenian carrier introduced seven new routes this summer, while the number of operated flights also grew. Unlike a part of last summer season, the airline did not maintain services out of its former base in Lodz in Poland but it recently stationed an aircraft in Paderborn in Germany, which will have an impact on its fourth quarter figures. Earlier this year, the carrier said, "Figures show we are on the right track, but there is still a lot of work ahead of us."

Montenegro Airlines handled 527,532 passengers during the January - September period, representing an increase of 13,6% from 2017, thus making it the fastest growing in the former Yugoslavia based on percentile growth. "The growth in all sectors of traffic comes as a result of the implementation of the optimal commercial strategy, as well as the responsible planning of resources and costs, which all had a positive impact on our operating results during the year," the airline said in a statement recently. Montenegro Airlines accounted for almost a quarter of all passengers passing through the country's two international airports - Podgorica and Tivat.