28.02.2020
"We highly appreciate the activation of the relations between Bulgaria and Montenegro. Bilateral cooperation also helps to address common challenges. "
This is what Prime Minister Boyko Borissov said during his meeting with the Montenegrin Prime Minister Duško Marković. In the course of the talks, the potential for expanding bilateral ties in the sectors of economy, investment, tourism, and energy was noted.
The Bulgarian Prime Minister noted that our country perceives as extremely promising the proposals for using the underwater power line connecting Montenegro and Italy, when there is mutual interest, as well as for possible participation of the countries from the region in the Belene NPP. "The implementation of these two projects can lead to deepening energy cooperation between our countries," Prime Minister Boyko Borissov emphasized.
The topics of forming a joint venture for exporting electricity from Bulgaria to Italy via the submarine power line between Montenegro and Italy, as well as a possible Balkan participation in the Belene NPP, were raised during Prime Minister Borissov's official visit to Podgorica on 2-3 September 2018. A bilateral working group on energy has already been set up to handle the projects.
Prime Minister Boyko Borissov noted that Bulgarian entrepreneurs are interested in investing in the Balkan region. In this context, actions to outline potential areas for attracting investment from Bulgaria are welcomed.
Regarding the promotion of contacts between the business communities of the two countries, it was noted that in view of the traditions and experience of Bulgaria, it is appropriate to discuss possible cooperation and creation of joint ventures or clusters in agriculture, food industry, energy, transport services, construction, telecommunications.
A highlight of the meeting between Prime Minister Boyko Borissov and Prime Minister Duško Marković was Montenegro's European integration. "Your efforts and progress towards EU integration are an example for the region," Prime Minister Borissov told Marković.
Prime Minister Boyko Borissov noted that Bulgaria, as a co-chair of the Berlin Process since January 1 this year, will continue to promote the Western Balkans on their path to the Union, as this leads to stability, peace and prosperity in the region. And such results are for the benefit of all of Europe. Borissov added that Bulgaria was among the countries that provided the strongest support to Montenegro for its accession to NATO.
During the meeting between Prime Ministers Borissov and Marković, the promotion of tourism between the two countries was discussed. In this regard, Bulgarian representatives will participate in the International Exhibition of Tourism, Hotel Services and Catering in March in Budva.
During last year there were 7140 registered visits by Montenegrin tourists in Bulgaria, which is 1.5% more than in 2018. Bulgarian tourist trips to Montenegro are 16,016 and their annual growth compared to 2018 is 56.2%.
