Dimitrije Čurović, President of the Board of the Montenegrin Center for Culture, stated that they see the forum as the beginning of an initiative to establish a Montenegrin Business Club in the Republic of Serbia and to strengthen cooperation between companies in both countries.
The Montenegrin Center for Culture and the Chamber of Commerce of Montenegro, under the patronage of the Ministry of Diaspora of the Government of Montenegro, recently organized the business forum “Montenegro and the Diaspora in Serbia and the Region” in Kula. The forum gathered companies from various sectors — from agriculture and the food industry to tourism, winemaking, and innovative industries.
Opening the event, the President of the Chamber of Commerce of Montenegro, Dr. Nina Drakić, expressed satisfaction that the forum was being organized in the year of a major jubilee — 20 years since the restoration of Montenegro’s independence — and highlighted the importance of further strengthening cooperation with the Serbian market.
“Serbia is much more than a neighbor to Montenegro. Serbia is our most important foreign trade partner, a partner with whom we share deep economic, historical, and cultural ties. Trade exchange between the two countries has been continuously growing and last year reached around 900 million euros, or nearly one fifth of Montenegro’s total foreign trade. As the most advanced candidate for EU membership, Montenegro continues to align its legislation and business environment with European standards, creating a stable and predictable framework for investment. Serbia has recognized this as a serious opportunity and is among the leading investors in Montenegro, with nearly 600 million euros in direct investments over the last six years. That is why I believe the years ahead will bring even stronger cooperation between our two countries,” said Drakić, adding that gatherings like this are important in order to give the idea of cooperation new energy and a new vision.
Drakić emphasized that the forum strongly affirms the role of the diaspora as one of Montenegro’s most important development potentials.
“Our diaspora is not only an emotional connection with the homeland. It is an economic bridge and a serious development resource. It is a network of knowledge, capital, experience, contacts, and trust. Today, people from the diaspora represent important investors, successful entrepreneurs, promoters of Montenegro, and natural partners in connecting regional markets. Therefore, today’s forum has a much broader significance than a single business event. It represents a platform for long-term cooperation that connects institutions, municipalities, businesspeople, and our people throughout the region and the world,” Drakić stated.
Dimitrije Čurović, President of the Board of the Montenegrin Center for Culture, said that they see the forum as the beginning of an initiative to establish a Montenegrin Business Club in the Republic of Serbia.
“Today, we are not here only because of the past, but above all because of the future. This forum emerged from the idea that Montenegro and its diaspora must be more strongly connected economically, institutionally, and personally. The diaspora should be a development partner through knowledge, experience, contacts, and investments. That is why today we are speaking concretely about investments, tourism, agriculture, the food industry, regional cooperation, and new business opportunities. Montenegro is a small country, but it has valuable people, a strong diaspora, and serious development potential. Therefore, let us become better connected. Organized together, we can do much more both for Montenegro and for the region,” Čurović emphasized.
Aleksandar Radovanović, Head of the Regional Cooperation Center at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia, pointed out that the forum confirms the close economic and business ties between the two countries.
“Our economies are naturally connected, and our cooperation gains new quality year after year. It is especially important that cooperation is not taking place only in trade, but also through concrete steps that improve the connection between our markets and economies,” said Radovanović, highlighting that the two countries are jointly working on two key infrastructure projects — the modernization of the Belgrade–Bar railway and the continuation of the construction of the Požega–Andrijevica highway.
Radojica Petrović from the Investment Agency of Montenegro presented Montenegro’s investment potential and expressed satisfaction at participating in the business forum in Kula:
“I am pleased to be in Kula today, a town that is home to a large number of Montenegrins. For some of you Montenegro is your homeland, for others your country of origin, and for all of you a synonym for beauty, tradition, and, I hope, potential,” Petrović emphasized.
As part of the business forum, a panel discussion titled “Diaspora as a Development Partner of Montenegro: Investments, Tourism, and Business Cooperation” was held. Panel participants discussed ways to improve the business environment and find optimal solutions to overcome business barriers as quickly and efficiently as possible. The key conclusion of the panel was that the establishment of a Montenegrin Business Club in Serbia will provide additional momentum for connecting the business communities of the two countries.
Within the framework of the business forum, the municipalities of Žabljak and Bijelo Polje were presented, and B2B meetings were organized to encourage networking and establish direct business contacts.
The twenty-first of May is important to us, Montenegrins in Serbia, because we are connected to Montenegro through emotion, family heritage, tradition, and the system of values we carry within ourselves.
We are proud citizens of Serbia, a country we love and respect. This is where we live, work, create, raise families, and contribute to its development in various fields. We believe in mutual respect and in a society where differences are not obstacles, but a source of richness!!!
At the same time, we proudly preserve our Montenegrin identity. We preserve it through culture, language, customs, love, and the ties we continue to build today between Serbia and Montenegro. That is why cooperation with the institutions of Montenegro is of exceptional importance to us.
This cooperation is not merely formal. Today we are witnessing a successful business forum. It is a bridge of trust and connection with our homeland. It gives strength to our Montenegrin community in Serbia and confirms that we are not forgotten, but that together we are creating a space for cooperation for the benefit of all.
Today’s gathering, the business forum, showed how much we can achieve when we are connected.
We are a bridge connecting people, ideas, and opportunities. A bridge of culture and economy,” said Mihailo Miletić, President of the Supervisory Board of the Montenegrin Center for Culture.
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