Montenegro views Turkey as prime source of investment

Montenegro believes Turkey has the potential to be among the top five investors in the country, its economic development minister said recently.

Jakov Milatovic said he believes economic links between Turkey and Montenegro can become even stronger.

"Turkey is already among the top 10 investors in Montenegro. However, we believe the potential is there for Turkey to be among the top five investors in the country. Trade between the two countries is at the level of about $150 million, and we believe that this amount could be doubled in the next period."

In an interview with Anadolu Agency, Milatovic evaluated the talks he had with officials in Turkey last week in which economic relations between the two countries were discussed.

Milatovic said that during the high-level visit of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Montenegro in August, steps to be taken to enhance economic ties alongside very good political relations between the two countries were discussed.

"So as a follow up of the meeting, it is very natural for my side to come here."

Milatovic said it was his first official visit to Turkey and that he met with Turkey's Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, Trade Minister Mehmet Muş, and Youth and Sports Minister Mehmet Muharrem Kasapoğlu, who is also a co-head of the economic commission between Turkey and Montenegro.

The minister said he visited Turkey's Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEIK) and Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) and met with Turkish businesspeople, as well as members of the Montenegrin diaspora that live in Istanbul and throughout Turkey.

"So (it was) a very fruitful visit, I must say, which is really kind of helpful in our continuous push for...