Economic conference Montenegro 2021

Risks and uncertainties in the business community, green and circular economy and digital transformation were among the main topics of discussion of the Economic Conference Montenegro 2021, held in Budva on 2-3 December prior to the CEI Summit - the concluding event of the CEI Montenegrin Presidency taking place on 3 December.

The gathering - organised by the Chamber of Economy of Montenegro under the title “Economic resetting in the post-COVID period” - provided an excellent opportunity to engage high-level decision makers, economic experts and university professors, representatives of businesses and others from the CEI Member States and discuss how to address the challenges caused by the pandemic and their impact on the economy.

Ladeja G. Košir contributed to the panel discussion on “Green Circular Economy – economic recovery and a different culture of living and doing business.” She also introduced the joined work of Circular Change and Deloitte Bosnia and Herzegovina, co-authoring the Roadmap towards the circular economy of Montenegro – initiative launched in 2019 at the Economic Conference Montenegro by the Chamber of Economy and UNDP. The roadmap will be launched in 2022.

Prime Minister of Montenegro Zdravko Krivokapic highlighted in particular the consequences emerging from the pandemic in the economic areas. He mentioned that while on one side sectors such as tourism and traffic had been heavily hit, on the other the digital sector had brought about positive effects, providing quick solutions to many problems.

SG Roberto Antonione - who opened the event together with PM Krivokapic and Acting President of the Chamber of the Economy of Montenegro Nina Drakic  - underlined that multilateralism was key to ensure convergence and development of the broad part of Europe within our constituency, and that regional organisations such as the CEI could play an important role by providing solid ground and solutions to challenges that know no borders. He added that in order to keep pace with the green and digital transition reversing the demographic trends in the region where many young people are leaving their home country with strong investments in youth and their education, boosting workforce competences was of utmost importance.

The Prime Ministers of the CEI Member States concluded the CEI Economic Forum with a special Prime Ministers’ Panel on the Post Pandemic future of Europe during the CEI Summit.