There are numerous areas in which the businessmen of Normandy and Montenegro could cooperate, above all in agriculture, energy, tourism, education. The president of that French province, Herve Moran, who led the Normandy business delegation during a two-day stay in Montenegro, called for concrete cooperation.
Moran says that Montenegro is very attractive to investors, as well as that stability and the rule of law in the country are important, so that there would be even more direct investments.
Normandy – the largest industrial zone of France with 22% of GDP – recognizable for the development of energy, agriculture, tourism. The businessmen of that region, with the arrival of President Hervé Moran in Montenegro, are trying to find partners.
We have identified several areas of cooperation, primarily in food production. Also, there is energy, namely carbonized energy. Of course, the potential for cooperation also exists in sustainable tourism. We can be a region that would receive all companies that are interested in investments, to market their products on the European market as well because we have the structure for that, to strengthen, strengthen and present companies from this climate on the European market – says Moran for RTCG.
Montenegro’s trade with France from 2020 to March of this year amounted to EUR 18.5 million, and the inflow of direct investments amounted to EUR 13.6 million. This time they also recognized cooperation on infrastructure projects, especially the modernization of airports and ports. The possibility of establishing a direct airline between Normandy and Montenegro is an invitation for French tourists.
We can help here through media promotion. Montenegro is a country that attracts more and more French and foreigners as tourists, but also those who would invest, and this is not surprising because you have wonderful nature and landscape. First of all, my goal here is to connect companies that would work together with the Government and people who make decisions – adds Moran.
But the economy is not the only area in which we can cooperate, but also education. Thus, the signed agreement formalized the cooperation between the University of Cannes and the University of Montenegro.
In this way, there would be an exchange of students, study groups, laboratories, research centers. The idea was to integrate a university from the Balkans into our community, since the University of Cannes is recognized internationally and works in several fields.
The ideal opportunity is for the University of Montenegro to be a part of that story, and it was chosen from everyone from the Balkans to actively participate. And, in order for everything planned to come true, the most important thing, Moran points out, is that the country respects democratic principles, achieves stability and peace, and that, he concludes, is what Montenegro has.