Local self-governments in Montenegro recognize the importance of improving the business environment and developing partnerships with the economy, it was concluded at the conference “Efficient Local Administration in the Function of Economic Development and European Integration,” held at the Chamber of Economy of Montenegro.
This conclusion is confirmed by the examples of the municipalities of Žabljak and Bijelo Polje, which have successfully completed the BFC recertification process (Business Friendly Certification of South East Europe), as well as Bar and Tuzi, which obtained this certificate for the first time.
President of the Management Board of the Union of Municipalities of Montenegro and President of the Municipality of Žabljak Radoš Žugić he pointed out that through the certification process, transparency and the availability of information have been improved, digital services such as online payments and submission of applications have been introduced, as well as the “Invest in Žabljak” platform, thereby further positioning this municipality as an open destination for investment and successfully integrating it into the implementation of several projects financed from EU funds.
Petar Smolović, President of the Municipality of Bijelo Polje Petar Smolović he emphasized that this municipality was among the first in Montenegro to initiate the BFC certification process, through which they digitalized numerous administrative procedures, reduced local fees, established business zones, and introduced digital services for citizens, thereby significantly improving the transparency of the administration’s work and creating a more favorable environment for investment and the development of entrepreneurship.
Dušan Raičević, President of the Municipality of Bar, emphasized that the BFC certification process helped the local administration identify and remove administrative barriers, improve operational efficiency and the digitalization of services, along with stronger cooperation with the business community and entrepreneurship support programs, thanks to which Bar is today recognized as one of the more transparent and business-friendly local self-governments in Montenegro.
Secretary of the Secretariat for Development and Projects in the Municipality of Tuzi Emin Hadži he emphasized that the local administration in Tuzi has significantly improved the business environment by reducing municipal fees by around 50 percent, strengthening cooperation with the business sector, and establishing the “Biznis Tuzi” platform, which provides investors with clear information on available locations and investment opportunities in this municipality.
President of the Assembly of the Union of Municipalities of Montenegro and President of the Assembly of the Podgorica Jelena Borovinić Bojović she emphasized that a large part of European policies and development projects are implemented precisely at the local level, which is why it is crucial to continuously strengthen the capacities of municipalities to use EU funds, with support through training, exchange of experiences, and expert assistance in project preparation.
The conference was opened by the Minister of Public Administration Maraš Dukaj, deputy Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Montenegro in Montenegro Rikardo Seri, and on behalf of the host, the President of the Chamber of Economy of Montenegro Nina Drakić.
Marash Dukaj, the Minister, stated that a municipality that is decentralized, digitalized, and transparent is not only a service provider, but also a driver of the economy and a key partner in implementing European standards, while the representative of the Delegation of the European Union to Montenegro emphasized that strengthening the quality, efficiency, and transparency of local public administration is essential for the daily life of citizens and business development.
Nina Drakić, President of the Chamber of Economy of Montenegro, stated that the efficiency of local administration directly affects the speed of investment implementation, the development of local economies, and the overall competitiveness of the country.
“A local self-government that understands the needs of the business community, simplifies procedures, improves transparency, and actively works to create a favorable investment environment becomes a strong driver of economic development. Therefore, the continuous strengthening of the capacities of local self-governments is one of the key issues for their further development,” said Nina Drakić.
