Japan’s status as the world’s third-largest economy aligns closely with Montenegro’s priorities, including green transition, infrastructure development, tourism diversification, and digital transformation, said Nina Drakić, President of the Chamber of Commerce of Montenegro (PKCG).
Speaking at a business forum organized by PKCG in Osaka, Drakić emphasized that although Montenegro and Japan are geographically distant, they share common values: a commitment to innovation, deep respect for tradition, and a forward-looking vision.
She highlighted Japan’s global leadership in robotics, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and clean energy as perfectly matching Montenegro’s focus on sustainable development, infrastructure, tourism, and digitalization. Drakić called on Japanese companies to invest in Montenegro’s renewable energy, digital infrastructure, tourism, and to strengthen educational cooperation.
“Our goal is to modernize transport corridors — roads, ports, and railways — while adopting smart urban planning. Japanese expertise in designing and building resilient infrastructure could be a key driver for Montenegro’s infrastructure and transport connectivity development,” she said.
Drakić also cited Daido Metal, a Japanese company operating in Montenegro, as a successful example of business cooperation. The company has created jobs and actively contributed to Montenegro’s industrial development and institutional dialogue.
Despite short-term economic challenges, Drakić stressed that Montenegro remains an attractive destination for foreign investors due to its NATO membership and status as a prospective EU member. The country offers a stable and growing economy, a competitive tax system, the euro as its currency, and preferential access to EU markets through trade agreements — providing a secure and strategic environment for long-term investment.
Montenegrin Prime Minister Milojko Spajić pointed out numerous cooperation opportunities in infrastructure, energy, logistics, tourism, and IT sectors. He emphasized Montenegro’s plans to invest heavily in infrastructure over the next decade, including highways, expressways, railway reconstruction, new trains, and port improvements, especially at Bar.
Spajić invited Japanese companies to explore these opportunities, noting that now is the ideal time to invest in Montenegro. He also underlined Montenegro as a safe investment destination with a stable business environment and very favorable tax policies.
“With EU membership, Montenegro will become part of the single European market, significantly increasing the attractiveness of our economic space and becoming a driver of dynamic economic growth and development,” Spajić said.
Hideiki Sho, Director General of the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), stated that Montenegro is known in Japan as a former Yugoslav country progressing steadily towards European integration, playing a key role within the Western Balkans Six initiative.
Sho noted that Japanese business sees opportunities for cooperation in energy, infrastructure projects, waste management, logistics, transport connectivity—especially railways—and tourism. Many projects are underway along the Montenegrin coast, a popular destination for Japanese tourists as part of the broader Adriatic region.
“This business forum is seen as an excellent opportunity to strengthen economic and trade cooperation between our countries and business communities,” Sho added.
The investment potential of Montenegro was presented by Snežana Đurović, Director of the Investment Agency, alongside Yoshiko Obayashi from JETRO.
Seigo Hanji, Honorary Consul of Montenegro in Japan and Chairman of Daido Metal’s Board, together with company representative Kagohara-san, showcased the successful operations of this Japanese firm in Montenegro.
The forum concluded with a concert by Miloš Karadaglić, one of the world’s most renowned classical guitarists, originally from Montenegro.
