Montenegro must do everything possible to attract foreign investors, as without them, the country will not experience economic growth or an increase in gross domestic product (GDP), according to economic analyst Davor Dokić.
“Since our public spending is too high, if we don’t increase the GDP, we won’t have the means to pay for it. When it comes to foreign investors, we must be flexible but also show a degree of authority and bring these investments into legal frameworks,” says Dokić, commenting on agreements Montenegro has signed with the United Arab Emirates.
Dokić dismisses the debate on whether investments in the southern coast of Montenegro (Velika Plaža) are necessary, calling it either ignorance or politicization. He believes the real issue is whether Montenegro should allow investments in high-end hotels, apartments, or condo-hotels, citing the successful examples of Luštica, Portonovi, and Porto Montenegro. He suggests allowing developers to build both residential units for sale and luxury hotels on separate parts of the land to elevate service standards and attract better guests, thus boosting tourism revenues.
He argues that with two major investments, Montenegro could increase its tourism revenue from 1.5 billion euros to 3 billion euros, which would significantly improve the country’s position on the global tourism map.
“We need to strike a balance between GDP and public spending, and the only way to increase GDP is through investments,” Dokić emphasizes. He believes Montenegro has the potential to attract large investments but warns that the country needs to improve infrastructure like roads and airports to increase its attractiveness.
Dokić also criticizes those opposing investments from the UAE, especially those targeting the southern coast, suggesting that critics fail to evaluate the situation properly during the busy summer season.
He further expresses concerns about the political manipulation of the investment topic, stating that politicians should not use it to improve their electoral standing, as this undermines the economy.
Regarding the issue of airport concessions, Dokić believes the best solution is for the state to take charge of the development of Montenegro’s airports. “Since airports are state-owned, the government should be the primary investor. This is a gold mine,” he says. He also suggests that if the state cannot invest, then Montenegrin businessmen should take over the investments, following the example of Albania’s successful development of its airport using domestic capital.
