05 March - The Prime Minister recently hosted a meeting of business people sponsored by the American Chamber of Commerce in Montenegro. Speaking about the fight against the gray economy, the Prime Minister said that a thriving economic and financial policy came as a result of increased work of inspection services despite the lack of capacity.

As to the tax policy and labour policy plans, the Government is reviewing complaints made by social partners with extreme sensitivity, PM Marković noted.

He also said that the Government is considering reducing or even abolishing the profit tax rate for those companies that reinvest their profits.

05 March 2019 - On March 5, President of Montenegro Milo Đukanović departed for Brussels at the invitation of the President of the European Jewish Association, Rabbi Menachem Margolin, where he will speak at the meeting of the board of this association on the Montenegrin model of inter-ethnic and inter-religious relations.

At the official ceremony in his honour, Rabbi Margolin, in the presence of the representatives of the European Parliament, the European Council and the European Commission, as well as European Jewish communities, will present President Đukanović the "European King David Award", the highest recognition given by the Jewish European Association to prominent figures.

The event, which will take place on March 7, is dedicated to the Montenegrin people’s great accomplishment of building a tolerant, inclusive and pluralistic society based on the principles of mutual respect and coexistence. As explained by the European Jewish Association, the event will be attended by dignitaries from across Europe, MEPs and senior representatives of European Jewry. “We are gathering to present the European King David Award to the President, in recognition of his huge contribution in safeguarding Jewish life in Montenegro, and building a tolerant society that should be emulated across the European Continent,” says the statement by the EJA.

President Đukanović will use his stay in Brussels to meet with European Council President Donald Tusk, to discuss issues related to the EU negotiation process, as well as current processes in Montenegro and the region.

He will also meet with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, whose agenda will also include some of these topics.

04 March 2019 - Turkish company Erka, which recently started building a luxury Condo Hotel LeGrand in Podgorica, Montenegro, will soon begin construction of a tourist resort on Sveti Stefan!

As reported by News Agency Investitor, the most recent project by Erka, named "Sveti Stefan Hills Condo Hotels & Villas", will cover 17,000 square meters and will have 22 villas and 104 apartments.

Tens of millions of euros will be invested in the complex in order to reach the five-star level and meet the highest demands of high-paying tourists.

The construction of the resort will officially begin on March 31 and project completion is planned for December 31, 2020, just around the completion date for the construction of the LeGrand hotel in Podgorica.

So far, Erka Group has implemented 65 projects in five countries, totalling 188 million USD.

Turkish investors have serious project plans in Montenegro, which has been confirmed by the former Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey to Montenegro Serhat Galip. He said that there is an interest of Turkish companies in the construction of Aqua Park, shopping centre and sports complex in Podgorica.

"The conditions for investing are very favourable and investors have confidence in investing their money here," Galip explained. He pointed out that until September 2018, investments coming from Turkey to Montenegro reached an amount of over 44 million EUR, and as one of the most important," the Ambassador singled out the construction of the five-star hotel in Podgorica.

The company Erka Construction was established in 1990 as a partnership of M. Veysi Erdoğan / Murat Erdoğan in Adana. Erka Construction, with over 20 years of experience, aims to create a different value in the construction sector with its long-term relationships and completed high-quality projects. ERKA is a global player in construction, maintenance & upgrades, mechanical & electrical installations, leasing heavy machinery, procurement, transportation, and sub-contracting.

04 March 2019 - The first International Film Festival “Uhvati Film Montenegro” (English: “Seize the Film” Montenegro) will be held on March 5 and 6 in Kotor. The opening ceremony of the Festival, film screenings and the discussions are planned for Tuesday, March 5 at 4 pm (at Cinema Boka) and March 6 at 12 pm (at the Solidarity Gallery in the Old Town of Kotor).

As the director of the festival Aleksandra Božović explained for TVCG, film festival Seize the Film is part of the regional network Film festival Seize This Day With Me/Seize the film, which has been held for the past 16 years in Novi Sad, Rijeka and Banja Luka, and this year it comes to Montenegro.

According to its organisers, the Film Festival Seize this Day with Me - Seize the Film includes screenings of foreign and domestic films on the topic of the lives, activities and achievements of people with disabilities and the following programs: film workshops, forums/discussions with the filmmakers and actors who appear the films, a seminar for journalists and students of journalism, exhibitions, performances, etc… in which people with disabilities participate.

16 films from 13 countries (among which are Japan, Italy, Argentina, Spain, Slovenia, Croatia, Turkey, Russia, Germany, Serbia) will be screened at the Festival in Kotor and they are selected from the program of the Novi Sad Festival 2018.

The festival features 16 films about people with different types of disabilities, different age, social, national, gender structures. It is this diversity that gives a broader picture of the situation of persons with disabilities, so it is possible to notice differences in approach and position, but also similarities.

The first International Film Festival Seize the Film Montenegro will be opened with the Japanese short film "Wheelchair dancer".

"The film projections are preceded by a panel discussion on the participation of persons with disabilities in culture, on institutions’ accessibility in regards to people with disabilities, but also on content, as well as how people with disabilities are displayed in movies and in the media," Božovic explained. The panel discussion will be organized in Kotor on March 5, starting at 12 pm in the Solidarity Gallery in the Old Town of Kotor.

"Guests of the festival and panelists will be representatives of the public sector, media houses, artists, representatives of non-governmental associations both from the country and from abroad," said Božovic.

As explained by the festival organisers, the goals of the Festival are: “informing the public about the lives, activities, positions, and accomplishments of people with disabilities, recognizing one’s own identity and potential, facilitating a better understanding and acceptance of differences, and influencing the media to more adequately follow activities and events in which people with disabilities participate”.

The Film Festival has, is in its 16 years of existence, attracted the attention of numerous media outlets, and, as a topic, it has had an everyday presence in both printed and electronic media.

The festival is organized by the non-governmental Art Association 365 in partnership with Association of Youth with Disabilities of Montenegro and supported by the Ministry of Culture of Montenegro and the Municipality of Kotor. The festival is supported by the Cultural Centre Nikola Đurković Kotor, the Cultural Centre Novi Sad, as well as the partner organizations from the region AS Parnas Novi Sad, Spirit Rijeka Association and HO Partner Banja Luka.

04 March 2019 - "The Montenegrin economy has grown at a rate of above 4.5% in two previous years. We do not have the final data yet because we are still waiting for information for the 4th quarter of 2018, but in 2017, the growth rate was 4.7%. in the first nine months of 2019, the economy grew by 4.9%, with the third quarter's growth of 5%, which was the third growth rate in Europe. Therefore, Montenegro, a small economy with so many challenges, achieved economic growth which is among the largest ones in Europe in these two years," the Prime Minister stressed answering questions at a meeting with business people sponsored by the American Chamber of Commerce in Montenegro.

02 March 2019 - President of Montenegro and the President of Democratic Party of Socialists of Montenegro, Milo Đukanović, stated that Montenegro must carry out painful socio-political structural reforms, particularly in the “sensitive” fields, to create conditions for a reduction of costs of public services.

“We are considering how to keep the same pace of economic growth in the medium term. Although we have achieved good results in the previous 13 years in terms of attraction of foreign direct investments, we now have to carry out painful socio-political structural reforms,” said Đukanović.

He said that the primary goal was to make public services better and more efficient and tailored to the needs of citizens, tourists, investors and entrepreneurs.

“Now, on the agenda, there is a question of our ability to create solutions that will lead to faster economic growth," concluded the President.

At a meeting of the Council for Monitoring of Implementation of the DPS’ Electoral Programme, he said that the goal of the development policies was to preserve competitiveness, encourage investments and entrepreneurship and improve the living standard.

Đukanović believes that the costs of public administration and social welfare should be lower, while the budget allocations for healthcare and education should be analysed in great detail.

According to the leader of DPS, it is only fair that the most important political exams are taken on this exact subject. "I am deeply convinced that DPS, due to its quality and due to the lack of real competition, absolutely has the best potential to answer these questions," Đukanović said.

02 March 2019 - As previously reported by TMN, Sociate Generale Group has signed an agreement for the sale of a stake in its Montenegrin subsidiary to Crnogorska komercijalna banka (CKB), i.e. OTP Group, subject to receipt of clearances from the relevant banking, antitrust and market authorities.

After submission of a request for an acquisition agreement by Crnogorska komercijalna banka (CKB) and Societe Generale bank Montenegro, the Central Bank (CBCG) will collect all relevant information and decide if the conditions have been met to approve this process.

“In compliance with its competencies, the CBCG will collect all relevant information in a formal decision making procedure, on the basis of which it will decide if the required conditions have been met for the approval of this merger, and what will be the impact of that transaction on the rest of the banking market,” the CBCG says in a press release.

The press release says that Chief Executive Officer of CKB informed the CBCG in mid-February about the plans of this financial company to acquire a 90.56 percent stake in Societe Generale banka Montenegro.

“However, the CBCG has not been informed about the concrete elements of the acquisition agreement concluded between these two companies,” the press release says.

Crnogorska komercijalna banka (CKB), the Montenegrin subsidiary of OTP Bank has signed an acquisition agreement on purchasing a 90.56 percent stake in Societe Generale banka Montenegro for €40.46 million.

The press release also says that Societe Generale banka Montenegro will continue to provide high-quality service to its retail and corporate clients, while preparing a smooth transition for its clients, ensuring the stability in their relations with the bank.

“Societe Generale Montenegro will be part of the cooperation agreement signed between Societe Generale and OTP Bank that encompass the provision of mutual services in various fields, including, but not limited to investment banking, capital markets, financing cash and liquidity management,” the bank says.

Source: MINA News Agency

03 March 2019 - According to News Agency Jedro, during the summer season 2019, the Montenegrin and Italian coast will be connected by the Croatian ferry Dubrovnik.

Stock Company Barska plovidba and its Croatian partner Jadrolinija from Rijeka have been in charge of the Bar-Bari route, a service that exists over half a century, for two years in a row.

The representatives of Montenegrin company Barska plovidba recently confirmed for Jedro that the most reasonable and probable solution for the establishment of a seasonal ferry service between the cities of Bar (Montenegro) and Bari (Italy) is the ferry Dubrovnik.

This will mark the third season in a row that the Croatian ship Dubrovnik takes over the Bar-Bari service line as the Montenegrin Stock Company Barska Plovidba still hasn’t purchased a ferry.

The managerial staff of SC Barska Plovidba visited Rijeka (Croatia) in February to negotiate business requirements, the timetable and schedule for ferries with managers of Croatia’s Jadrolinija.

“The 2019 summer season is about to start, and we had to provide an alternative solution for the Bar-Bari ferry line. We had good cooperation with Jadrolinija over the past two years, and we expect this collaboration to continue in the same way this year as well. Barska Plovidba’s still striving to buy a used passenger vessel that would take over the Bar-Bari line,” said the president of the Board of Directors of SC Barska Plovidba, Ljubo Kočović.

"This line was established in 1965, and so far it has transported two million passengers, 240.000 cars and about 100.000 trucks and trailers. For half a century, the number of passengers who have travelled on this route is four times bigger than the total number of people living in Montenegro, and our most successful business years were 1995, 1996, 2006, 2007 and 2008, "said Tihomir Mirković, Acting Director of Barska plovidba.

The ferry Dubrovnik has the length of 122,06 metres, a width of 18,82 metres and height of 12,55 metres with a gauge of 4,83 metres. The ferry’s structure includes a restaurant with 135 seats, a self-service restaurant with 224 seats, a cake shop, a bar with 274 seats, a video hall, a chapel and a playroom for children.

03 March 2019 - Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Justice Zoran Pažin met earlier today with President of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) Guido Raimondi.

We are proud that Europe sees Montenegro as an example of responsible and consistent execution of the judgments of the European Court of Human Rights, DPM Pažin said at the meeting.

DPM Pažin said that Montenegro is aware of the great privilege and responsibility that, as a member of the Council of Europe, it provides its citizens with the highest level of protection of human rights and freedoms guaranteed by the European Convention on Human Rights. 

The Deputy Prime Minister expressed satisfaction with the European Court's assessment that there is no systematic violation of human rights in Montenegro. He stressed that Montenegro will continue to execute all judgments of the European Court in a timely, conscientious and proper manner, which it perceives as a chance for further development of the domestic legal order, promotion and strengthening of human rights and freedoms of Montenegrin citizens.

DPM Pažin pointed out that Montenegrin institutions pay full attention to the application of the standards of the European Convention at the national level, adding that the European Commission's latest progress report shows that Montenegro enjoys a good level of cooperation with the ECHR.

European Court President Raimondi welcomed Montenegro's commitment to respecting high standards of protection of human rights and freedoms and commended the Government for the principled and consistent execution of all judgments of the European Court of Human Rights. President Raimondi also stressed that a quality dialogue that the ECHR has with Montenegrin courts is essential for strengthening the national legal system.

03 March 2019 - On the occasion of the celebration of the Day of Protection and Rescue in Montenegro and the World Civil Defence Day, the Ministry of the Interior organised a ceremony to grant awards and recognitions for the contribution to the development of the protection and rescue system in the previous year. 

Minister of the Interior Mevludin Nuhodžić and Director General of the Directorate for Emergency Situations Mirsad Mulićaddressed the audience. 

Prime Minister Duško Marković sent a congratulatory letter to members of the protection and rescue services, noting that they are a reliable backbone both of Montenegro and our NATO partners. 

Minister Nuhodžić emphasised that every year the rescue system is additionally improved. He recalled that last year a new firefighting aircraft was purchased and the status of 20 firefighters was solved. The Minister expressed special satisfaction with the Protection and Rescue Fund, through which over 94,000 EUR were allocated for projects that will further strengthen the rescue system. The commitment of the Government and the Ministry of the Interior to improving the status of firefighters is also shown in an increase in their wage coefficient, the Minister said, adding that this was only one of the benefits defined by the Law on Protection and Rescue. 

Director General Mulić expressed satisfaction with the quality of the rescue system and the good cooperation of all the entities of the system, pointing to the complexity and responsibility of the tasks performed by members of the protection and rescue system. 

Mulić noted that there were 13 296 interventions in the past year, while Directorate for Emergency Situations 112 recorded 105 395 calls and coordinated 40 rescue operations in the mountains, where 88 people were rescued. He also stressed that there were no human casualties. 

A total of 19 awards and recognitions were granted this year.