Podgorica, (MINA-BUSINESS) – The forum titled “Montenegro and the Diaspora in Serbia and the Region” strongly promotes the role of the diaspora as one of Montenegro’s most important development potentials, said President of the Chamber of Commerce Nina Drakic, adding that strengthening cooperation with the Serbian market is very significant.

Speaking at the opening of the business forum on Monday in Kula, she said she was pleased that the forum was being organized in the year marking a major national jubilee, the 20th anniversary of the restoration of Montenegro’s independence.

“Serbia is much more to Montenegro than a neighbour. Serbia is our most important foreign trade partner, a partner with whom we share deep economic, historical, and cultural ties. Trade exchange between the two countries has been continuously growing and last year reached around €900 million, or nearly one-fifth of Montenegro’s total foreign trade,” Drakic stated.

According to her, as the most advanced candidate for EU membership, Montenegro continues to align its legislation and business environment with European standards, creating a stable and predictable framework for investments.

Head of the Regional Cooperation Center at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia, Aleksandar Radovanović, noted that the forum confirms the close economic and business ties between Serbia and Montenegro.

“Our economies are naturally connected, and our cooperation gains new quality year after year. It is important that we continue building an environment in which businesses can operate faster, more efficiently, and more competitively. It is especially important that cooperation is not limited only to trade, but also includes concrete steps that improve the connection between our markets and economies,” Radovanovic stated. 

The business forum featured presentations of the municipalities of Zabljak and Bijelo Polje, as well as the main panel titled “Diaspora as a Development Partner of Montenegro: Investments, Tourism, and Economic Cooperation”, followed by B2B meetings aimed at networking and establishing direct business contacts.