Prime Minister Milo Đukanović hosted yesterday delegation of the World Bank headed by Ms Ellen Goldstein, the World Bank’s country director for the Western Balkans.
The meeting underlined that the cooperation between the Government of Montenegro and the World Bank has reached the highest level, putting an emphasis on the World Bank’s overall support to Montenegro.
Ms Goldstein congratulated Montenegro on receiving NATO invitation, stressing that the World Bank is willing to support Montenegro and the Western Balkan countries as well in pursuing their membership in the EU. She also presented the World Bank’s strategy for Montenegro for the period 2016-2020, aimed at supporting the country in achieving macroeconomic stability, boosting competitiveness in the private sector, advocating regional development and creating new jobs.
PM Đukanović noted that stability is crucial for development of the Western Balkans, adding that the region could not reach the stability without the integration process. “The Government’s priority in the coming period will be consolidation of macroeconomic stability, namely fiscal and financial, as well as the continuing work on improving competitiveness”, he added. He also voiced the Government’s full commitment to boosting economic growth and maintaining sustainability of the public finances.
The two officials particularly discussed the macroeconomic stability, noting the progress Montenegro achieved in collecting the public revenues, improving fiscal competitiveness in order to preserve the attractiveness of the business environment and achieving consolidation of the public finances. They also noted that Montenegro’s engagement in the Berlin process contributes to strengthening competitiveness and improving infrastructure in the country.