Ivanović meets with representatives of Spanish Confederation of Business Organizations: Strong potential for enhanced economic cooperation

Deputy Prime Minister for Foreign and European Affairs Filip Ivanović concluded his official visit to the Kingdom of Spain with a meeting with representatives of the Spanish Confederation of Business Organizations (CEOE), the Spanish Chamber of Commerce, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Enterprise, as well as several Spanish companies.

The meeting was opened by Marta Blanco, from CEOE, who welcomed the opportunity to gain deeper insight into Montenegro's economic performance and development priorities. She introduced the role and scope of CEOE, emphasizing that the organization represents the interests of all sectors within the Spanish economy.

Jaime Montalvo, Director of International Affairs at the Spanish Chamber of Commerce, underlined the Chamber's role in promoting and defending the interests of Spanish businesses, as well as its advisory function to the Spanish government. He noted the significant potential for cooperation with Montenegro and expressed readiness for continued engagement.

Speaking on behalf of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Enterprise, Juan José Otamendi reiterated Spain's firm backing of Montenegro's reform efforts and European path, underlining the Spain's broader support for the Union's enlargement policy.

Deputy Prime Minister Ivanović thanked the hosts for their hospitality, highlighting the meeting as an important opportunity for exchanging ideas and exploring avenues for economic partnership. He stated that while political relations between Montenegro and Spain are excellent and marked by genuine friendship, there remains considerable room to strengthen economic ties.

Ivanović presented the progress Montenegro has made within the EU accession process, stressing the country's ambitious reform momentum over recent years. He outlined key sectors of interest for Spanish investment, including tourism and hospitality, infrastructure - particularly road development - as well as the IT sector and digitalization of public administration. He reiterated Montenegro's openness to increased presence of Spanish companies.

Ana Cmiljanić from the Development Bank of Montenegro delivered a presentation on the country's economic landscape, highlighting key investment opportunities and strategic priorities.

Spanish company representatives presented their respective fields of activity, with some already engaged in cooperation with Montenegrin partners. They recognized Montenegro's strong investment potential and its favorable and stable business environment.

The meeting concluded with a shared view that enhanced business connectivity and the promotion of Montenegro's investment potential in the Spanish market would contribute significantly to deepening economic cooperation. Marta Blanco emphasized that Montenegro's alignment with EU regulations presents a clear advantage for Spanish companies, and added that the insights from the meeting would be shared with CEOE member companies to encourage future partnerships.