Luncheon topics will focus on Minster Katnic’s recent visit to the United States, actions that the Ministry of Finance is taking to resolve business challenges, and the Ministry’s strategy for the second half of 2012 and 2013.

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AmCham Executive Director, Edin Seferovic, presented the communal/utility connection fee rates in Montenegro vis-a-vis the Southeast European region and beyond. Also attending the meeting was Deputy Minister Sinisa Stankovic. Representatives from more than 15 AmCham member companies were present at the meeting.

During the discussion session of the meeting, AmCham members commented that rates to connect new buildings to utility infrastructure, such as water, sewer, telephone, and electric lines are extremely high. Members felt that in order to stimulate investment in buildings that are necessary for development of the tourism, manufacturing, and telecommunications sectors, a different model than the one currently in place should be researched to compensate municipalities.

AmCham members also expressed concern over varying municipal taxes and the methods used to assess fees to companies with a presence in more than one part of Montenegro.

AmCham members, in principle, supported the Ministry’s “one-stop shop” initiative which will make it easier for investors to gain approval for construction permits by not having to seek approval from all relevant agencies. Rather construction permit applications would be submitted in one place and it would be the government’s responsibility to gain approvals.

This year, the Clean & Green initiative will be performed at four different schools and is focused on educating elementary schoolchildren about the importance of recycling and reusing. As landfills grow ever larger and Carbon Dioxide levels are rising as a result of the demands of a growing world population, we produce more containers and other types of packaging for everyday consumer goods. AmCham Montenegro, in partnership with Uniqa, focused its 2012 Clean & Green Program on teaching younger members of our local community about the short and long term benefits of recycling and what they can do to be a part of the environmental solution.

The first two of four C&G activities in 2012 were conducted at the June 1st School for Education & Training (Zabjelo) and at the Mehmet Lekic Elementary School (Tuzi). The C&G also sought to implement a sustainable recycling program at the partnering schools, the cost of which would be covered by the collection and selling of recyclable materials such a glass, aluminum, and plastic.

Partners for this year’s AmCham Clean & Green included Green Home, APD ZID, Represent Communications, Hypo Alpe Adria Bank, DHL Express, Karanovic & Nikolic, Osmanagic Co., doMEn, and Coca-Cola Hellenic.

The Clean & Green will be continued in September and October of this year.

According to Minister Vlahovic, the areas that are most relevant for Montenegro, as it concerns science are: energy, tourism/sustainable development, agriculture, culture and medicine/health. Concrete steps that the government will take to help promote sciences in Montenegro will be to build a business incubator/IT park for young entrepreneurs through a World Bank funded program and to continuously engage youth with science exhibits and other such gatherings.

AmCham members commented on the need to attract more international companies to Montenegro and to work on bringing back talented scientific minds that have left Montenegro to be educated and pursue other opportunities abroad.

Please follow the link below to download a copy of the Municipality Scorecard in Montenegrin or English.

In her introductory remarks, AmCham Montenegro President, Ms. Svetlana Vuksanovic, stressed that vigorously protecting intellectual property serves the national interests of Montenegro by increasing tax revenues and protecting consumers.

The conference concluded that the protection of intellectual property in Montenegro has increased, but that there is still a need to take further measures to ensure full protection of intellectual property rights.  The Conference supported the following:

• Education and raising awareness of citizens, government institutions and businesses about the importance of intellectual property and its contribution to economic, cultural and social progress;

• Establishing an active and coherent policy and legislative insistence on proactive measures for better implementation of existing regulations in the field of intellectual property protection;

• Support existing and new construction of institutional and human capacity to effectively implement the regulations in the field of intellectual property protection;

• Exchange of information, cooperation and teamwork based on the interaction of institutions that will consolidate the current enthusiasm and efforts of individuals;

• Cooperation at the international level, the adoption and implementation of recommendations of best practices from other countries in order to create a business environment in which the degree of protection of intellectual property to economic competitiveness of Montenegro.

Guest speakers included Mr. Mersad Mujevic, Director of the Directorate of Public Procurement in Montenegro and Ms. Katarina Radovic, Secretary of the Commission for the Control of Public Procurement Procedures. Ms. Jelena Vujisic, an attorney with Law Office Vujacic also presented some of the concerns that bidders have faced in the past and what changes the new law will bring.

In his response to a question from AmCham members about the growing liquidity problem in the Montenegrin market, the Minister of Economy underlined the need for the government and the business community to continue to focus on removing business challenges and creating a better business environment. He also mentioned the need to attract more foreign investments, including more investment from the United States.