February 2012
Business news Montenegro Wants to Reduce Food Imports During 2012, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Montenegro wants to reduce the number of food products that are imported, and to stimulate the production of meat, milk, cereals and animal feed. IN addition to this, Montenegro should try to realize some of its great opportunities in the European market for wine, meat, meat products, ham, and various types of cheeses, fish, vegetables and fruit. The ministry believes that producers need further resources in terms of refrigeration and storage. This is something that companies often complain about, but that can easily be solved by using the warehouse space of companies that have gone out of business. Source: www.mpr.gov.me
Business Environment Macroeconomic Outlook Capital Market Banking Sector Privatization and Investments Economic Freedom Business News In the Spotlight Coming up...
Ready for a Green Economy By basing the development of Montenegro on the fact that it will receive most of its energy from renewable sources and through the application of energy efficiency mechanisms, it shows that Montenegro is totally ready to implement the basic guidelines of the EU energy-climate package. Montenegro, as a developing country, has no obligation to reduce pollution levels, but it does have to define the way that it intends to take over the energyclimate package. Montenegro is keen to be one of the first countries to implement the concept of a green economy. Source: www.mrt.gov.me
Privatization Plan 2012 The Government of Montenegro adopted the Privatization Plan for 2012. The Plan contains companies planned to be privatized either through public tender or to be put on lease. The following companies will be privatized by public tender: “Pobjeda” JSC Podgorica, “Montecargo” JSC Podgorica; “Montenegro airlines” JSC Podgorica, “Kontejnerski terminal i generalni tereti“ JSC Bar; “Željeznička infrastruktura Crne Gore“ JSC Podgorica (manteinance), “Jadransko brodogradilište“ JSC Bijela; “Zora” JSC Berane; HG “Budvanska rivijera“ JSC Budva, HTP “Ulcinjska rivijera“JSC Ulcinj; “Institut crne metalurgije“ JSC Nikšić i Fabrika elektroda “Piva“ Plužine. The former military locations and facilities planned to be put on lease by applying the model of private-public partnership are the following: “Ada Bojana” Velika plaza, Bjelasica-Komovi, “Montepranzo-Bokaprodukt” JSC - Tivat, “Pošta Crne Gore “ JSC Podgorica, military barracks “Orijenski bataljon” – Kumbor; Island “Mamula”. Some military-touristic complex are yet to be evaluated, such as: complex “Valdanos”, Ulcinj, “Ostrvo cvijeća” and land “Prevlaka” - Tivat, “Bigova” Trašte, Kotor, etc. Source: www.savjetzaprivatizaciju.me
Montenegro Became a Member of WTO Montenegro became the 156th member of the World Trade Organization. During a Ministerial Conference, on the occasion of the Montenegrin accession to WTO in Geneva, the Prime Minister of Montenegro said that Montenegro was walking firmly towards integration into the European structure. This was also confirmed by the recent decision of the European Council to open negotiations with the EU in June 2012. The formalization of Montenegro’s membership in WTO is another important and successful step towards its integration into modern international markets. Source: www.mek.gov.me
Montenegro has been Added to the Existing List of 53 Eligible Countries for US H2 Visa Programs The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), in consultation with the Department of State, have published a list of 58 countries whose citizens are eligible to participate in the H-2A and H-2B programs for 2012. Haiti, Iceland, Montenegro, Spain and Switzerland have been added to the existing list of 53 eligible countries for visa programs for the first time this year. The H-2A visa program allows U.S. employers to bring foreign workers to the U.S to fill temporary agricultural positions while the H-2B visa program enables U.S. employers to offer employment to foreign nationals for temporary non-agricultural positions. Source: www.balkans.com
17