The Business Agenda 2025 analyzes issues and proposes solutions and priorities that the Union of Employers (UPCG) will focus on over the next five years to significantly improve the business environment and reduce the shadow economy, said the Deputy General Secretary of the association, Filip Lazović.
Speaking on a morning program on Gradska television, Lazović said that UPCG will organize an event on February 20 to present the Business Agenda 2025 and mark the Day of Social Justice by awarding socially responsible companies that stood out in the previous year, as reported by PR Center.
“Regarding the Business Agenda, our goal is to continue the activities we have been implementing since 2013. We want to continue measuring the perception of Montenegrin entrepreneurs, gain insights into their opinions, and understand what they consider key to improving the business environment. Since then, with the support of the International Labour Organization, we have been regularly conducting surveys and producing reports on the state of the economy,” said Lazović.
He added that this year they improved the Business Agenda from December 2023, in which they identified the biggest challenges facing Montenegro’s business environment.
“Among the key problems that entrepreneurs most often highlight are the shadow economy, which seriously damages the economy, inefficiency in public administration, which hinders daily business operations and development, the lack of workforce, forcing us to import workers from new markets, especially in the tourism sector, the need to improve the education system so that workers acquire relevant skills and remain competitive in the market, an inadequate regulatory framework that does not meet the needs of businesses or technological changes, and low productivity, which becomes even more pronounced after wage growth,” Lazović explained.
The UPCG believes that it is necessary to intensify social dialogue and ensure that the voice of the business community is not only formally acknowledged but also has a tangible impact on decision-making.
“The Business Agenda not only analyzes problems but also proposes concrete solutions and priorities that UPCG will insist on over the next five years. Given that 2028 is mentioned as a potential date for Montenegro’s EU accession, our goal is to significantly improve the business environment, reduce the shadow economy, and increase the efficiency of public administration by then. We aim to reach a level where the problems of Montenegrin entrepreneurs are similar to those faced by entrepreneurs in the EU,” Lazović said.
Speaking about cooperation with state institutions and social partners, Lazović stated that UPCG will continue to act as a partner at the national level and collaborate with trade unions, the government, and local governments.
“We don’t want to be mere critics; we offer concrete solutions and contribute to the common good,” Lazović concluded.
He believes that the key growth potentials for Montenegro’s economy lie in tourism, agriculture, the IT sector, and the development of domestic products and services.
“Montenegro is small, but rich in resources, and we need to make the most of our domestic potentials,” Lazović concluded.
