27 July 2019 - Film Production house Beacon Pictures from Santa Monica, California, is interested in producing films and other audio and visual content and music events in Montenegro, as reported CdM and Ministry of Culture of Montenegro.

This company Beacon Pictures was founded by a famous Hollywood film producer, director and screenwriter, Armyan Bernstein. The company’s representative, Mark Penel, is in charge of the new films and special projects and he recently spoke with the Minister of Culture of Montenegro, Aleksandar Bogdanović.

They spoke mostly about the possibilities for film production in Montenegro, with the emphasis on turning our country into a famous film destination. In that context, Bogdanović showed Montenegro's locations to the representatives of the Hollywood company in details.

The guests expressed deep interest in the cooperation with Montenegro and making films of different audio and visual formats on our territory. They also offered other forms of cooperation concerning modern musical and stage audio and visual productions.

Minister of Culture Aleksandar Bogdanović pointed out that Beacon Pictures House might be particularly interested in cooperation with the Film Center of Montenegro.

One of the most important global automobile brands, Ferrari, recently filmed a car advertisement in Montenegro, which is the result of the program VR Montenegro, behind which is the production house Artikulacija, supported by the program of the Ministry of Culture of Montenegro and the Creative Montenegro Project.

This is one of the most significant results of the entire Creative Montenegro Project so far. Namely, for the first time in Montenegro, renowned global clients chose locations for recording with VR equipment.

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26 July 2019 - Prime Minister Duško Marković recently hosted Sándor Csányi, Chairman and CEO of OTP Group, which had recently acquired the Societe Generale Montenegro, thus strengthening its position as the leading bank in the country, as reported the Public Relations Service within the Government of Montenegro.

Congratulating the OTP Group on the successful acquisition, the Prime Minister noted that this is important for Montenegro, which has been given an even stronger partner for the continuation of successful cooperation primarily on development projects.

"I believe that the stronger position of your bank will have a positive effect on Montenegro and that you will be an even stronger player in the Montenegrin economy," said PM Marković, expressing his gratitude to the OTP Group for having had consideration, at each stage of the acquisition process, for the demands of the Montenegrin side.

The Prime Minister informed Mr Csányi about the excellent results of the Government's economic policy, which includes a high growth in GDP and strong investment activities with simultaneous fiscal consolidation and a reduction in public debt. The meeting also discussed the development projects the OTP Group could be interested in, as well as the forthcoming issue of securities announced by the Government.

On 16 July, CKB Bank purchased 87.602 shares (90.55%) of the Societe Generale Montenegro, at a total value of 35.629.692,37 EUR, at the Montenegro Stock Exchange.

The meeting was attended by Minister of Finance Darko Radunović, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of OTP Group Zsolt Barn, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of OTP Group László Wolf, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Montenegrin Commercial Bank Miklós Németh, and CEO of the Montenegrin Commercial Bank Pál Kovács.

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25 July 2019 - Prime Minister of Montenegro Duško Marković met with Miguel Fluxa Rosselló, the owner and Executive President of the Iberostar Group that has been operating in our country for over ten years.

The meeting expressed mutual satisfaction with the cooperation between the Government of Montenegro and this world tourist giant, which has an annual income exceeding 2.4 billion EUR in 35 countries, generating 10% of total tourist nights in hotels and 25% in high-class hotels, as stated in the announcement by the Office of the Prime Minister of Montenegro.

The Prime Minister of Montenegro Duško Marković and the Executive President of Iberostar Miguel Fluxa Rosselló jointly assessed that the cooperation initiated at their first meeting almost three years ago is an example of the successful implementation of the vision of sustainable tourism development and an important step forward in enriching Montenegro's tourist offer and significantly expanding the offer of this renowned company.

Prime Minister of Montenegro Duško Marković informed the Iberostar Executive President Miguel Fluxa Rosselló about the extremely good results of this summer's tourist season saying that the number of guests in the hotels has increased and that financial indicators point to revenue growth.

The Executive President of Iberostar Miguel Fluxa Rosselló, whose company operates in Herceg Novi, Perast and Bečići, expressed interest in further improvement of the Montenegrin offer and expansion of business in our country and in the region. In that sense, concrete steps have been agreed on increasing the number of airlines flying to Montenegro and further improvement of our utility infrastructure.

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25 July 2019 - Minister of Culture of the Republic of Bulgaria Boil Banov paid an official visit to Montenegro, during which he met with Minister of Culture of Montenegro Aleksandar Bogdanović.

As stated in the report of the Ministry of Culture of Montenegro, the meeting discussed the previous cooperation in the field of culture, as well as the joint activities that will be implemented in the following period.

Ministers Bogdanović and Banov agreed that relations between the cultural institutions of the two countries have already been established in many areas of cultural and artistic creation, that the cooperation in the field of cultural heritage was particularly intense, and that additional efforts will be made in order to implement joint projects.

In this sense, the Working Group of the Ministries of Culture of Montenegro and Bulgaria, which will be tasked with managing joint projects from September, will be formed during the next two years. The focus will be on projects in the field of cultural heritage, creative industries and various arts programmes.

Ministers Bogdanović and Banov emphasised that the existing Agreement on Cooperation between Montenegro and the Republic of Bulgaria in the field of culture, which dates from 2015, represents a good basis for future cooperation, but that it is necessary to sign the Bilateral Cooperation Programme as soon as possible, which will define in more detail areas of common interest.

"I am pleased that today we defined the basics of future cooperation, and above all, that the Working Group of the two ministries will work on concrete joint projects of Montenegro and Bulgaria in the field of culture from September. During the meeting, we especially discussed potential partnerships in the field of promotion of the cultural heritage of the two countries," Minister Bogadnović said.

Minister Banov thanked Minister Bogdanović and his associates for their readiness to work together, but also the Bulgarian Embassy in Montenegro, which significantly contributes to strengthening the ties of our two countries in the field of culture.

Ambassador of the Republic of Bulgaria to Montenegro Meglena Plugchieva also attended the meeting.

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22 July 2019 - President of Montenegro Milo Đukanović received the NATO Commander for Transformation Andrea Lanat, who is visiting Montenegro.

President Đukanović expressed satisfaction with the visit of Commander Lanata at a time when Montenegro is proudly marking the two-year membership in the Alliance. During that period, as well as during the accession process, Montenegro recognized numerous chances that membership in the club offers, understanding the responsibility of membership, and accepting that it is the only reliable prospect for stability in Southeast Europe.

"In Montenegro, you have a reliable partner and a responsible member promoting the European and Euro-Atlantic value system in this part of the continent," Đukanović said in an announcement by the Cabinet of the President of Montenegro.

He expressed satisfaction with the completion of Montenegro's integration process in NATO and thanked the Alliance's support for the implementation of activities for the accession and integration of the national system in NATO over the past two years. Montenegro remains actively committed to NATO's priorities and directions, including open door policy and support for the integration of Northern Macedonia, and presence in Alliance missions.

The commander of NATO's Allied Command emphasized that he was honored at the occasion of his visit to Montenegro in such an important moment, which is the completion of Montenegro's integration into NATO. He congratulated the Montenegrin Team and the President personally on everything that was done in the integration process and invested efforts, stressing that the success of the process is not merely the defense sector of all institutions.

"I am impressed with everything that has been done in the past two years, it was a collective effort, comprehensive and efficient. With your integration process, you gave an example to others in the region," Lanata said, with gratitude to Montenegro for the support it provides to Northern Macedonia on its full integration path.

Lanata stressed that Montenegro will continue to have strong support from the Allied Command that will continue to work closely with Montenegro in further aspects of adaptation and transformation.

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22 July 2019 - In the first quarter of this year, the banking system was stable, solvent, profitable and highly liquid. Both non-performing loans and interest rates continued to decline, according to the Central Bank of Montenegro. Namely, the Central Bank of Montenegro Council passed today the Decision on Amendments to the Decision on Minimum Standards for Liquidity Risk Management in Banks. The Central Bank of Montenegro explained that the proposed amendments to the Decision refer to its further alignment with the relevant EU regulations and guidelines of the European Banking Authority, reported CdM.

“The main novelty refers to the elimination of collateral – even the one categorized as the firs-class – which has been a requirement for loans. This means that if other criteria for approving a loan classified as ‘non-performing’ are met, it must be categorized as non-performing regardless of the type of collateral used for securing it. The proposed amendments ensure that the data on non-performing and restructured loans in the Montenegrin banking system are completely aligned with the data of the EU member states,” it was stated after the meeting of the Central Bank of Montenegro Council.

The Council considered and adopted the Report on Business and the Implementation of Central Bank of Montenegro Policy for May 2019, and it was noted that the activities of the Central Bank in this period were implemented in line with planned obligations defined by the 2019 Central Bank of Montenegro Program of Work.

In addition, the Central Bank of Montenegro has prepared the Information on introduction of instant payments and further development of payment activities in Montenegro, along with a comprehensive description of an intention to additionally modernize Montenegro’s payment system.

At this session, the Council also discussed other relevant issues that fall under its competencies.

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21 July 2019 - Andrija Đukić, a 15-year-old boy from Podgorica, has achieved the objective he set a month ago when he set out on a 900-kilometer and million steps long journey in order to collect money for medical treatment of children in “Be human” foundation, reported CdM.

Andrija got the Compostela, a diploma pilgrims obtain when they reach their objective successfully. This brave boy has walked around 800 kilometers so far. Today he reached Santiago de Compostela in Spain and as his mother Jelena said, tomorrow he will be heading towards Finistera.

The picturesque landscapes of France and Spain featured in “The way” film has inspired Andrija to start the journey of his dreams. On 20 June, together with his mother, Andrija went on a 900 km long journey, within the humanitarian action Million steps, with the aim of helping collect money for the treatment of children in the Be Human foundation.

“I have been thinking a lot about the ways I can help children who need the help most. And I found the answer in “The Way” film. This is the answer. Pilgrims carry this stone on their way. It represents the suffering and sorrow of the one who is carrying it. That is what I am going to do, in Cruise de Fero, the highest point of the journey. Symbolically, I will leave their pain there,” said the boy before he went on to pursue his noble goal.

Sweltering heat and fatigue didn’t prevent Andrija from reaching his objective. His persistence won.

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20 July 2019 - Minister of the Interior Mevludin Nuhodžić recently made an unannounced visit to Debeli brijeg, the main border crossing between Croatia and Montenegro, and on that occasion spoke with Montenegro's border police officers and tourist intending to get firsthand information about the traffic flow at the border at the peak of the tourist season, as reported the Government of Montenegro.

"Today I have made an unannounced tour of the Debeli brijeg border crossing and I was assured that the Border Police officers are doing their job professionally, with great will and with great kindness," Minister Nuhodžić said, adding that the tourists with whom he talked at the border crossing confirmed this.

"This is very important because the border police are the first to meet tourists visiting our country. Tourists told me the same about the work of our police officers - they find them very professional and kind," the Interior Minister stressed.

20 July 2019 - President of Montenegro Milo Đukanović received the Ambassador of the Republic of Slovenia Mitja Močnik on a farewell visit, and on that occasion gave him a medal for merit on behalf of the state of Montenegro.

The President of Montenegro emphasized that the high state recognition is a result of the exceptional interstate cooperation and support and understanding of Slovenia, which as such dates back to the Yugoslav times, and is particularly intensified in the period after the restoration of independence.

"Emphasizing that interstate connections are always made by people, the ambassador of Slovenia was awarded medal as a mark of respect for personal professional and friendly contribution to the improvement of relations and a full understanding of Montenegro's need to build its European future," said Đukanović in the announcement of the Office of the President of Montenegro.

"Thanks to that, the voice of Montenegro has also been heard from friends like you, the representative of an EU member state, who has a special sensitivity to Montenegro's aspirations, when we are moving forward towards the EU, believing in the perspective of the European perspective," said President of Montenegro.

Đukanović also pointed to an appropriate relationship of trust between Montenegro and Slovenia with high marks for the quality of bilateral cooperation, especially in the field of economy, and its value in terms of adopting new knowledge and standards. Special gratitude to Slovenia for the development aid that continuously provides to Montenegro.

Ambassador Močnik, with gratitude for his recognition, emphasized that he is honored to have served his country in Montenegro and contributed to the improvement of interstate cooperation.

"Medal for merits is also a recognition for my predecessors and the state officials of Slovenia in continuity," Močnik said.

With the assessment that Montenegro deserves the affection of the future structure of the EC, the ambassador of Slovenia said that the country will continue to give full contribution to the integration of Montenegro into the EU.

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19 July 2019 - Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Policy and Financial System of Montenegro Milutin Simović hosted today the United States Ambassador to Montenegro Judy Rising Reinke.

In the report of the Cabinet of Deputy Prime Minister of Montenegro, it was noted that Montenegro and the United States maintain excellent bilateral and partnership relations at all levels. Deputy Prime Minister Simović and United States Ambassador to Montenegro Judy Rising Reinke agreed that the circumstances of the existence of stable, allied relations between the two countries in the coming period should be used to boost economic and trade ties further, and to identify and implement concrete business and investment projects.

Deputy Prime Minister of Montenegro Milutin Simović presented the measures the Government of Montenegro has successfully implemented in the fiscal consolidation process, thus creating a favourable business and investment environment, and the plans for further economic development, stressing the Government's willingness to undertake activities, in cooperation with the United States Embassy and Ambassador Judy Rising Reinke, to draw attention of the United States investors to the potential of projects' implementation in Montenegro. Deputy Prime Minister Milutin Simović referred to energy, agriculture, tourism and infrastructure as particularly attractive investment fields.

Ambassador Judy Rising Reinke pointed out that Montenegro has taken steps towards strengthening its economy, overall stability and increasing the standard of living. She added that work on improving the business climate should be continued, which would enable a greater presence of the United States investors, which is one of her priorities.

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