28 October 2019 - A consortium of the German WPD AG company and Vjetroelektrana from Budva is the only bidder for the construction of Brajići wind farm, offering 100 million EUR.

As Cafe del Montenegro reported, five companies have purchased tender documentation in the public tender invited for the lease state-owned land. Only one bid was submitted within the established deadline.

The bid encompasses the construction of a wind warm with a capacity of 100,8 MW, a 100 million EUR investment. The lease of the land will be 2,50 EUR per square meter for a total of 220.770 square meters of land.

WPD AG, a renowned German company, is experienced in the implementation of similar projects in many world countries, with a 4.400 MW portfolio of installed capacity.

The bid also envisages the participation of national companies for 21,6 million EUR, which will further enhance the multiple effects of the project.

Research and measurements of wind potential in Brajići were carried on the grounds of licenses issued by the competent Ministry, between May 2013 and May 2015 and between November 2016 and November 2017.

German WPD expressed its interest in the construction of the Brajići wind farm at the beginning of this year. Andreas Scholl, WPD Director for Europe, met in February with Montenegro’s Prime Minister Duško Marković and said that they wanted such investment in Montenegro.

Similarly, the wind farm Gvozd project was recently estimated at 58 million EUR, rated at 55 megawatts and, according to the estimates, it will have 13 turbines. Shareholders in the state energy company supported the decision on the construction of the Gvozd wind farm. Executive manager of the Directorate for Development and Engineering in the Electric Power Company of Montenegro Ivan Mrvaljević said that development of the Study on the potential of wind and energy production assessment, and the Study on the market and business model of Gvozd wind farm had been carried out before the investment decision.

Read more news about business in Montenegro at TMN's dedicated page.

27 October 2019 - Marriott International, Inc. recently announced the signing of a milestone agreement with Northstar D.O.O. to bring The Ritz-Carlton brand to Montenegro. Under the plan funded by Al Yasra, The Ritz-Carlton, Montenegro and The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Montenegro is scheduled to bring the brand’s unrivalled elegance and legendary service to the country in 2023.

“With its striking views of the Adriatic coast, Montenegro has quickly become a favourite Mediterranean destination for global travellers,” said Carlton Ervin, Chief Development Officer – Europe, Marriott International. “The signing of The Ritz-Carlton, Montenegro, highlights the demand for our luxury brands in this exciting region. Combining the country’s serene, natural beauty, together with the brand’s legendary service, makes Montenegro the perfect destination for The Ritz-Carlton guest.”

Slated to rise in a prime position on the Western tip of the chic Luštica Peninsula, the hotel and residences are expected to boast panoramic views over the glittering Adriatic Sea. Planned to be accessible by car in 30 minutes from Tivat International Airport or two hours from Dubrovnik International Airport, the coastal property is expected to allow guests and residents to have an unforgettable entrance via the sea at a planned private jetty.

Design plans for the hotel’s 120 elegantly appointed guestrooms and suites envision relaxing sanctuaries for guests, with simple local design planned to merge discreetly with contemporary technology, all to enhance the natural beauty of the location. The project’s plans call for low-rise buildings that would blend into the terrain while maximizing sea and sunset views for guests, residents and visitors alike. The powerful backdrop of the Adriatic is expected to highlight planned recreational amenities, including the property’s main restaurant, two specialty restaurants, a beach bar, indoor and outdoor pools, a salt-water Lido pool, a world-class spa and fitness room, and well-equipped Ritz Kids and Teen clubs.

Plans call for expansive outdoor event spaces with unobstructed views to create ideal settings for hosting memorable gatherings, alongside creative pop-up activations offering seasonal bar and restaurant options. Adventurous activities, such as mountain biking and nature trail hikes, are also being planned for guests to enjoy. Ambassadors of the Environment, a hands-on, educational program developed by Jean-Michel Cousteau’s Ocean Futures Society in collaboration with The Ritz Carlton, is expected to offer programming that highlights the extraordinary natural reserves surrounding the property, striving to encourage guests of all ages to understand how their actions can help preserve natural resources for future generations.

“The success achieved on this project, bringing the legendary Ritz-Carlton brand to Montenegro, is a result of dedicated work by all parties involved, both from our company, Marriott International, and the Government of Montenegro,” said Mohamed Al Sager, Chairman, Al Yasra. “This is not only a business success, but a personal accomplishment as well. When I first visited Montenegro on holiday, I fell in love with the natural beauty of the country and knew I wanted to be a part of its future development. What began as just a dream has today become a great project on a clear path of execution."

The hotel and residences are planned as part of a mixed-use development that is poised to include sprawling villas, manicured gardens, a yacht club and a sparkling beach cove. The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Montenegro, is expected to offer 180 apartments and 48 villas and is scheduled to complete the first phase of construction in 2023, with the final phase scheduled for completion by 2028. Residential sales are slated to begin in 2020.

27 October 2019 - Winter season operations of the national carrier Montenegro Airlines begin on October 27th, 2019 and will be valid until March 28th, 2020.

According to the official statement published on the company’s website, Montenegro Airlines will be making minor amendments to its 2019/2020 winter season operations.

The carrier will continue to operate scheduled services from Podgorica to Belgrade, Frankfurt, Ljubljana, Paris, Rome, Vienna and Zurich. From Podgorica to Belgrade, flights will operate twice a day on all days except Fridays, when MA planes will fly three times a day. Montenegro Airlines planes will fly from Tivat to Belgrade once a day on all days, and Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays twice a day.

For the second consecutive year, the airline will increase frequencies between Podgorica and Ljubljana, with an additional two weekly rotations (Mondays and Thursdays) for a total of six. The company will also add an extra weekly flight from Podgorica to Frankfurt and Paris, as well as from Tivat to Moscow during the holiday travel period, between mid-December and mid-January. Furthermore, the airline will run charter flights to Italy (Bari and Naples).

As for the other regular flights operated by MA throughout the year, there will be no significant changes, except for the period around New Year's and Christmas holidays, when additional rotations are introduced due to increased demand.

This winter season, Montenegro Airlines will maintain operations with four aircraft - three Embraer E195s and one Fokker 100 jet, reports EX YU Aviation. The second F100, which has been grounded with an engine issue since May, is unlikely to be returned to service. Although the carrier is yet to detail its future fleet plans, it is believed this winter will mark the last for the remaining F100, which is approaching retirement and will be replaced by a leased Embraer jet next summer. The Montenegrin carrier is currently in the process of finalising a commercial strategy that will define the company’s development over the next three to five years in terms of its destination network and fleet structure.

25 October 2019 - Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs and the newly appointed Western Balkans Representative for the United States State Department, Matthew Palmer, recently stated that Montenegro is a leader in the region when it comes to EU accession, reports CdM. However, he also pointed out that Montenegro must remain very focused on the forthcoming period and try to accelerate activities to implement all the required reforms related to strengthening the rule of law and freedom of the media, and the fight against organized crime and corruption.

At the Senate hearing of the Subcommittee on Europe and Regional Security Cooperation, Mr Palmer pointed out that the Western Balkans region needed the more active presence of the EU.

Speaking about Montenegro, Palmer said that the country is a regional leader, thanks to its peaceful, multi-ethnic society and rapidly growing economy.

“NATO accession in 2017 was a very important step forward for Montenegro”, Palmer concluded.

He also considered political circumstances in the region.

“While the USA supports desire of the nations and governments of the Western Balkans for safer, more prosperous and more democratic future, I can’t tell the same for all foreign actors acting in the region”, said Palmer and added that Russia’s intention “is to encourage divisions and prevent Euro-Atlantic integration of the region”.

Therefore, he says, the USA must increase their own engagement in the WB region. “Just sending messages isn’t enough. We must be more present and invest in the region,” said Palmer.

Serbia’s failure to recognize Kosovo is Moscow’s greatest trump card, thinks Mr Palmer. He sees Turkey as an important player in the Balkans, as Turkey regards the region as “its own yard”.

"Germany is ready to give Montenegro support and assistance in efforts to further improve the environment," it was concluded after a series of meetings were held in Berlin between the Minister of Sustainable Development and Tourism Pavle Radulovic with representatives of the Bundestag and the ministry.

At a meeting with the Federal Minister for the Environment, Nature Protection and Nuclear Safety, Radulovic requested expert assistance, especially for the projects related to the environment and sustainable development.

A ministry delegation led by Radulovic presented the results of the protection of Ulcinj's “Solana” (Salt Plant), and also discussed the conservation of protected sites such as Tara Canyon, Skadar Lake, and national parks.

There was a high degree of agreement on the above issues, with the decision to deepen further cooperation with operational meetings between the two countries' institutions. Radulovic and Minister Schulz noted with satisfaction that the Government's efforts so far have been fruitful and that since the opening of Chapter 27, there has been significant progress, among other things, that “Solana” is now protected both locally and internationally.

At a meeting with the Chairman of the Bundestag Tourism Committee Sebastian Mince Maker and the members of the committee, Radulovic presented the results of the tourism industry, which is improving year by year.

The German side is pleased that an increasing number of their tourists are visiting Montenegro, emphasizing their willingness to cooperate in tourism through the opening of new direct flights between the two countries.

The Minister also met with members of the Working Party on the Environment, Alliance 90 / Greens, as well as with President Zilvia Koting-Ul and members of the Committee on the Environment, Nature Conservation and Safety of the Bundestag Nuclear Reactors.

Text by Vijesti online, on October 24th, 2019, read more at Vijesti

25 October 2019 - The new Podgorica – Bari line, which will be established as a segment of the cross-border On Cloud Nine project, will be launched in January 2020, reports CdM Portal.

The new line will be introduced and maintained by Montenegrin national carrier – Montenegro Airlines. As TMN reported earlier, the representatives of the Airports of Montenegro recently participated in a kick-off meeting of the transnational On Cloud Nine project in Bari (Italy) at the premises of Airports of Puglia.

The project On Cloud Nine, “cONnecting CLOse and Unexplored Destinations with New INter-Adriatic transport sErvices” aims to establish air links between the Italian region of Pula and Montenegro, as well as Pula and Albania, through the testing of the Brindisi - Tirana and Bari – Podgorica air routes. "This initiative will contribute to the promotion of mobility, trade and tourism in the Montenegro-Italy-Albania region by developing and improving the quality of new cross-border, sustainable and integrated passenger transport opportunities," Airports of Montenegro said.

The representatives of the Airports of Montenegro explained that the project was co-financed under the trilateral Interreg - IPA cross-border cooperation program for Italy, Albania and Montenegro, with a total budget of 1,44 million EUR.

The data published by the portal EX-YU Aviation show that this winter the number of passengers in regular air traffic is expected to increase significantly in the markets of several countries of the former Yugoslavia.

"Based on data from the company Cirium (formerly FlighGlobal) analytics firm, which analyses aviation and travel trends, comparing the 2019/20 winter season with the previous one, most significant shift in the number of departing passengers on the European continent will be noted in Montenegro,” reports EX-YU Aviation.

24 October 2019 - According to the new World Bank Report - Doing Business 2020, Montenegro took 50^th place on the list of 190 countries ranked using the “ ease of doing business ” criteria. Compared to last year's Report, Montenegro increased its rating for 1.07 points (from 72.73 to 73.8) and maintained the same rank.

Doing Business 2020 is the 17th in a series of annual studies investigating the regulations that enhance business activity and those that constrain it. Doing Business presents quantitative indicators on business regulations and the protection of property rights that can be compared across 190 economies— from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe—and over time.

The report covers indicators affecting 12 areas of the life of a business: starting a business, dealing with construction permits, getting electricity, registering property, getting credit, protecting minority investors, paying taxes, trading across borders, enforcing contracts, resolving insolvency, employing workers, and contracting with the government. The indicators are used to analyse economic outcomes and identify what reforms of business regulation have worked, where, and why. Data in Doing Business 2020 are current as of May 1, 2019.

In terms of Montenegro’s ranking, the most significant progress was made in the area of building permits, where Montenegro improved 35 places in the rankings in this area, now reaching the 40^th place on the ease of getting a building permit list. In comparison to last year, according to the methodology used by the World Bank, Montenegro significantly reduced the cost and time required to obtain a building permit.  Such progress is a confirmation that the World Bank recognizes continuous efforts that Montenegro makes in the area of getting building permits, and above all, the effort to establish a new legal framework in this area, which was achieved in 2017.

Montenegro’s progress has also been evident in the area of cross – border trade. This indicator treats the procedures for import and export. Montenegro has improved six places in the ranking by reducing the time and costs required for import and the costs of export.

In the area of obtaining connections for electricity, Montenegro reduced the necessary time and costs, but the rank remained unchanged.

For other indicators, there was no change in the ratings compared to last year, and corrections in the rank are the result of the intensive reform processes implemented by other countries.

Read more about the business environment in Montenegro at TMN's dedicated page.

22 October 2019 - In the winter season 2020/2021, Montenegrin ski resorts Kolašin 1600 and Kolašin 1450 will offer 45 kilometres of ski slopes to all locals and tourists who enjoy spending their holidays in the snow.

Last year's winter season in Montenegro saw a 33.37 per cent increase in the number of tourists and 15.83 per cent increase in the number of overnight stays in comparison to 2017, reports Investitor Portal. It is expected that this year's winter tourist season in Montenegro will produce even better results.

At the session of the Board of the Association of Tourism and Catering of the Chamber of Economy of Montenegro held at the Kolašin 1600 Ski centre, the Ministry of Sustainable Development and Tourism and the National Tourism Organization of Montenegro announced the intensification of promotion of Montenegro in the regional and European broadcast markets, especially those with which Montenegro has good airline connections.

Miloš Popović, director of Ski Resorts of Montenegro, said that 140 million EUR would be invested in ski tourism infrastructure by 2022. The construction of the Kolašin 1600 Ski resort, as well as resorts Žarski, Cmiljača, Štedim and Hajla is already planned, as well as additional valorisation of the Durmitor Ski resort.

“In the 2020/2021 winter season, Montenegrin ski resorts Kolašin 1600 and Kolašin 1450 will offer 45 kilometres of ski slopes,” highlighted Popović on this occasion.

As TMN reported earlier, Kolašin was recently listed by The Guardian as one of the top ten small ski resorts in Europe.

This winter, the Kolašin 1600 Ski resort will offer eight kilometres of trails and a ski school, a restaurant, and an amusement park will be in operation. "With the impetus that the highway should provide, this area will be a new pearl of Montenegrin tourism," said the director of Ski Resorts of Montenegro.

The winter season at the Kolašin and Žabljak ski resorts will start on December 14th. The offer will be enhanced with six concerts by regional music stars.

Depending on the weather, the season will last until April 1 or 15.

"It is very important to ensure traffic accessibility. Roads to the ski slopes must be passable every day from eight in the morning, ”said Popović.

He suggested that the construction of an ice rink should enrich Kolašin's tourist offer. In order to provide the necessary staff, he believes that it is necessary to establish the “gripman course” at the Secondary School of Education in Mojkovac and a course for specialists in industrial mechanical engineering at the Engineering Faculty in Podgorica. Popović also demanded that the VAT on cableways be reduced to seven per cent, as they are part of public transport.

22 October 2019 - Producers of ‘Montenegrin Prosciutto’ from Cetinje – eight companies comprising the cluster – took part in the 13^th International Prosciutto Fair in Istria, which was held last week in Tinjan.

Producers of prosciutto represented Montenegro at the Fair and were backed by the Montenegrin Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

"During the three-day International Prosciutto Fair in Istria under the slogan ‘Come and find your favorite slice of prosciutto’, attended by over 25.000 visitors, more than 15 tons of this exquisite delicacy from different parts of the region and Europe was served. The ‘Montenegrin prosciutto’, which got the protection of geographical indication of a product last year, got noticed by a large number of visitors," the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development stated, writes Cafe del Montenegro.

Eight members of the cluster called ‘Montenegrin prosciutto’ attended the Fair, including Martex, Zrnožit, Interproduct, MiAnja, Monstate, Gornič, DDR commerce, and Nani Prom, along with the representatives of the Cetinje Tourism Organization and the Old Royal Capital Cetinje.

As part of the Fair, a ceremony was organized awarding certificates for the successfully completed course and exam for sensory prosciutto analyst and three Cetinje residents were awarded: Petar Muhadinović, Boris Vujović, and Ilija Ševaljević.

Read more news about lifestyle in Montenegro at TMN's dedicated page.

22 October 2019 - The Gvozd wind farm will be of even better quality than Krnovo, due to its great energy potential as the wind speed reaches 17 meters per second in that area. This wind farm will produce electricity enough to meet the needs of 25.000 households, said Krešimir Čondić, CEO of Austria’s IVICOM Holding GmbH.

Renewable energy resources, as strategic commitment of the Electric Power Company of Montenegro and the Gvozd wind farm project, were considered today in the meeting of the Committee on Energy and Mining.

Only one part of the wind potential of the Krnovo plateau has been used in the construction of the Krnovo wind farm.

Gvozd wind farm is expected to have 54,6 MW and to produce approximately 150 kWh of electricity.

The beginning of the construction is the spring of 2021. Works are expected to take 18 months and the wind farm is expected to become fully operational in autumn of 2022. This investment is worth around 60 million EUR, reports Cafe del Montenegro.

Individual wind generators will have 4230/4430 KW of nominal power.

The future wind farm will require the construction of infrastructure, reconstruction of the existing roads and construction of new ones, with the aim of connecting certain wind aggregates.

"Gvozd will be of great quality, even higher than Krnovo," said Čondić.

Director of the sector of Electricity transmission Jagoš Pupović said that they were considering variants for the optimal solution for connecting Krnovo to the energy system.

Head of development and engineering at Electric Power Company of Montenegro Ivan Mrvaljević acquainted members of the Committee with the renewable energy resources to be valued through some modernization projects and ecological reconstructions. He added that the modernization of hydropower plants represented a very important project. Reconstruction of the oldest plant "Perućica" will increase its installed power by 58,5 MW.

Read more news about business in Montenegro at TMN's dedicated page.