The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Capital Investments, Ervin Ibrahimović, presented to the chargé d’affaires of the Embassy of Spain in Podgorica, Manuel Durán, investment opportunities in the field of transport and energy, looking at the possibilities of a stronger presence of Spanish investors and companies on the Montenegrin market.
Ibrahimović welcomed the opening of the Spanish Embassy in Podgorica as a step forward in strengthening cooperation between the two countries, which have good bilateral relations without open issues, but with the existence of space for improving economic relations and connecting the economy between Spain and Montenegro.
“Today’s meeting was an opportunity for Ibrahimović to present investment opportunities in the field of transport and energy, so the focus of the conversation was on the continuation of the implementation of the Bar-Boljare highway project, the continuation of the reconstruction of the railway line, the possibilities of better valorization of the potential of the port of Bar and the capacity of its free customs zone, with the development of intermodality, but also the development of supporting activities along the corridor from Bar to the border with Serbia and further through Belgrade to Budapest and Bucharest,” the announcement states.
Ibrahimović said that the continuation of the construction of the highway will contribute to the reduction of population migration and increase the level of employment in the northern part of Montenegro, which should consequently have a positive effect on demographic trends. He added that the first section generated new traffic and represents a significant impetus for the development of tourism in the north.
Ibrahimović also pointed out that in this context, a special focus should be placed on exploiting the potential of the northern region, which has the largest part of the total hydro potential in Montenegro, the entire coal reserves, about 67 percent of arable land, 71 percent of wood mass, close to 70 percent of livestock. , almost all reserves of lead and zinc, as well as resources for the development of winter and ecotourism and the production of eco-food and food with protected geographical origin.
Since Spain has experience in the field of solar energy, the interlocutors discussed the development plans of Montenegro when it comes to renewable energy sources. Durán announced that so far Spanish companies have been successful in cooperation with Montenegro, and recalled the procurement of trains for the needs of the Montenegrin railway, stressing that the CAF company is one of the two leaders in Spain in the field of manufacturing railway rolling stock and that such a successful cooperation may continue in the following period, depending on the further plans of Montenegro in this area.
The interlocutors concluded that this meeting is only the first step in strengthening cooperation between the two countries and that in any case we should work on creating opportunities for better promotion of Montenegro’s investment opportunities to Spanish investors and companies.
