Better Cooperation for the Development of the Local Economy with the Support of Norway

Analysis of Support for the Development of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Montenegro through the Prism of Cooperation Between Local and National Actors, was presented in Podgorica and Berane to representatives of local governments and business support organizations, within the project "Norway for you - Montenegro" supported by the Kingdom Norway.

This Analysis provided input for the development of proposals for strengthening institutional mechanisms that should enable more efficient and effective coordination and cooperation between the national and local levels in terms of providing support to the MSME sector. The Analysis will contribute to raising awareness at the local level about national economic policies, including those related to innovation, and about financial mechanisms that support MSMEs. In addition, it will enable the Ministry of Economic Development and national institutions to better understand local priorities, needs and challenges, and facilitate horizontal cooperation, including the exchange of good practices between municipalities.

“The main objective of the project is to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the support provided to the development and transformation of micro, small and medium enterprises. Gathering all parties involved at national and local level will enable the exchange of experiences, good practices and aspects for improvement, so that we contribute to the development of the local economy, with a special focus on digital transformation, green economy and innovation," the “Norway for You - Montenegro” Project Manager Armen Čekić said.

After the presentation of the Analysis, representatives of local governments and business support organizations participated in group workshops, with the task of identifying two independent activities to work on during the project "Norway for you - Montenegro", one of which should encourage inter-municipal cooperation.

The final result of these workshops will be the improvement of the competitiveness of local development leaders through the strengthening of the business environment and the development of entrepreneurship, micro, small and medium businesses, in accordance with the legal framework of Montenegro. With the participation of representatives of the Ministry of Economic Development and representatives of relevant national institutions, these workshops should contribute to better vertical coordination between the national and local levels.