In 2022 alone, Israeli companies invested more than EUR 200 million in Montenegro, which ranks it among the largest investors in the last year, it was estimated at the meeting of the State Secretary in the Ministry of Capital Investments (MKI) Admir Šahmanović with the non-resident ambassador of Israel in Montenegro Jahel Vilan.
As announced by the Ministry, the conversation was a good opportunity for the interlocutors to once again confirm the traditionally good bilateral relations of the two countries with the tendency to further improve economic relations, through more specific projects.
I am pleased with the continued presence of investors from Israel, especially in terms of recognizing the domestic investment potential in politically and economically challenging times. Appreciating the fact that Israel is positioned among the leading countries in the world in the field of research, innovation, high technologies, and the representation of investors from Israel on the domestic market, I appreciate that there is a strong foundation for further cooperation, the benefits of which will be felt by all our citizens – emphasized Šahmanović and took the opportunity to started a conversation with Ambassador Vilan on the topic of air traffic in Montenegro.
Šahmanović presented the problems of the current management of the Montenegrin airport operator and the national airline ToMontenegro, which refers to slots, that is, take-offs from the Podgorica airport to Tel Aviv after midnight.
Mki, as the owner, asked for a study to be made of projections of income and expenses of the night use of Podrgorica airport, and in the end it came to the conclusion that opening the airport 24/7 for take-offs and landings would cause large costs, and the relevant ministry in cooperation with the national carrier and the Airports of Montenegro, to try to find a solution to get out of this situation, but at the same time it was agreed that the ambassador would provide full support in solving it by trying to find a compromise solution in communication with the Israeli airport authorities so that the traffic to this attractive destination would be carried out unhindered this tourist season as well – said Šahmanović.
In any case, we expect the new management to deal with these and other important issues with special attention, in order to make the most of this season in accordance with the given opportunities and capacities, and to continue with the air operations to Tel Aviv without hindrance.
The statistics show that Israeli investors, when we talk about the amount of investment so far in the Montenegrin economy, are at the very top, and I want to emphasize that I am satisfied with the tendency of the sustainability of this trend in the coming period as well.
If we have the data in front of us that in 2022 alone, Israeli companies invested over EUR 200 million in Montenegro, which puts Israel in the position of one of the largest, if not the largest, investors in the last year, I believe in the possibility of developing new projects and investments – he announced is Šahmanović.
The ambassador emphasized that there is a very large number of investors who are ready to invest in promising, stable and credible destinations, and that Montenegro is recognized as one of them.