In the 17 years since it regained its independence, Montenegro cannot boast of capital projects. Those in tourism are private investments, while strategic state capital projects are limited to the first section of the highway, from Smokovac to Mateševo, and the underwater energy cable between Montenegro and Italy. Economic experts estimate that this is a consequence of the lack of vision, plan and a clear political position on the development of the state.
Although, from last year to this anniversary of independence, we managed to finally reach a speed of 100 km per hour on the first section of the highway, the country, in the 17 years since the restoration of independence, cannot boast of rapid development. That’s why economic experts list capital projects quickly and easily.
Regarding the last 17 years, the only two capital investments in my opinion are the highway and the underwater cable. I don’t see a third capital investment – said economic analyst Oleg Filipović.
Mahmud Bušatlija, an analyst from Belgrade, does not see it either.
It is with great regret that I have to state that I cannot determine which project would be commendable from the point of view of public interest. From the point of view of individual interests, whether they are politicians or those who go along with politics, i.e. tycoons, they have satisfied themselves – said Bušatlija.
A total of 41 kilometers of highway, it cost almost one billion euros, and was built for seven years, with five delays, during the mandates of four governments. In the second half of last year, since it was opened, revenues reached a little over 4.5 million EUR, and the projections are that this year it will reach 9.5 million.
And the submarine cable between Montenegro and Italy, the first energy bridge between the European Union (EU) and the Balkans, also worth about a billion, was waited for 9 years.
From November 2019, when the cable was activated, to May last year, the Montenegrin Electric Transmission System (CGES) earned close to EUR 19 million from this investment.
