Strong business interest in strengthening economic cooperation between Slovenia and Montenegro

In her speech at the opening of the Slovenian-Montenegrin Business Forum, the Slovenian President expressed her pleasure at the interest shown by the business sectors of the two countries in strengthening bilateral cooperation. The economic indicators from previous years show a positive trend: last year recorded growth of almost 14% in trade in goods, while the year before that the number of investments increased by 20%. She said that she and Montenegrin President Jakov Milatovic agreed that there is still a lot of untapped potential to further strengthen economic cooperation. "I have with me today representatives of Slovenian companies from several different sectors, which shows that there is much business interest – let us discover and exploit these potentials," the Slovenian President encouraged the participants.

While clearly supporting Montenegro on its European path, she also stressed the importance of a secure, predictable business and investment environment, and fair treatment of companies in administrative and judicial procedures and their adequate legal protection, which will contribute to increasing Montenegro's trade with other countries and attracting foreign direct investment. President Pirc Musar sees the Reform and Growth Facility for the Western Balkans as one of the opportunities for enhanced cooperation between Slovenia and Montenegro in the economic sphere. "The EU makes the financing of projects conditional on the proper implementation of the reform agenda by all Western Balkan countries. Slovenia and our Centre of Excellence in Finance (CEF) in Ljubljana can also help with their knowledge and experience in the preparation and implementation of the reform agenda," President Pirc Musar assured the Montenegrin business representatives.

In her address, she highlighted sustainable development and the responsibility, especially on the part of companies, towards environmental, social and economic standards and their respect in daily operations. The Slovenian President therefore called for a high level of attention to be paid to corporate responsibility in relation to employees, the environment and society. This was also one of the key messages of the two Presidents, who yesterday, 24 April, at the opening of the Adriatic Forum on the Environment, Society and Governance (the ESG Adria Summit) in Tivat, both presented their vision for the future of the Western Balkans region.

Afterwards, President Pirc Musar and President Milatović met with business representatives from both countries and then visited the monument to France Prešeren in Podgorica. The two countries are also linked by poetry, with statues of our greatest poets in both capitals – in Ljubljana there is a statue of the poet Petar Petrović Njegoš. Yesterday, the Slovenian President and her host visited the town of Kotor, a UNESCO world natural and cultural heritage site, where they toured the old town centre, home to the Cathedral of St. Trifun and the Maritime Museum.

Before returning to her home country, the President of the Republic of Slovenia and her host met with members of the Slovenian community living in Montenegro; the President will conclude her visit with a meeting with the President of the Parliament of Montenegro, Andrija Mandić.