Montenegro has shown significant progress in achieving key strategic priorities related to NATO integration (becoming a member of June 5, 2017) and pre-accession negotiations with the European Union. As a Minister in the Government of Montenegro, I feel especially honoured to be leading this sector in a period when one, in certain ways new chapter of regional cooperation and cooperation of the region with the EU has intensified, manifesting itself through the Berlin Process and Connectivity Agenda and being additionally confirmed by the singing of the Transport Community Treaty in Trieste in 2017. On the national level, a Single Project Pipeline of priority infrastructure projects was defined, encompassing transport sector projects with a 3.38 billion euro value, complementary with obligations Montenegro undertook within the Connectivity Agenda and connected to the construction and rehabilitation of corridors situated on the indicative extension of TEN-T network to the Western Balkans region.

Key infrastructure projects in the transport sector are: a) the construction of Bar-Boljare highway as a road connection to the Republic of Serbia, indicative extension of Orient – East Mediterranean corridor, b) the construction of Adriatic-Ionian corridor, i.e. coastal variant, expressway along Montenegrin coast, as a road connection with the Republic of Croatia and the Republic of Albania, indicative extension of the Mediterranean corridor, and c) the rehabilitation of railway line Bar-Vrbnica as a railway connection with the Republic of Serbia, indicative extension of the Orient – East Meditterrenean corridor.

In the context of above mentioned projects which have strategic importance for Montenegro, especially the ongoing construction of the first kilometres of highway in the direction from Podgorica to Kolašin, organization of the Transport Connectivity Forum has special significance for Montenegro. In close partnership with the IRF, Ministry of Transport and Maritime Affairs aims to bring together main decision-makers in the region, as well as representatives of the non-government and private sectors, in order to hold open dialogue on current and future trends in the road sub-sector and transport sector as a whole.
Welcome!

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H.E. Osman Nurković
Minister of Transport & Maritime Affairs, Montenegro

South East Europe is at an important crossroads in the development of its road connectivity programs, securing a critical role as a gateway for international trade routes.

At a time of growing motorization, the region’s network of roads and highways is currently its largest public asset. However, significant challenges remain to enhance the safety, efficiency, and connectivity of the road network, underscoring the value of enhanced regional cooperation.

Against this backdrop, the International Road Federation is pleased to present the 2019 Transport Connectivity Forum in partnership with the Ministry of Transport & Maritime Affairs of Montenegro. We have designed this event with the idea of providing a setting for sharing proven and innovative solutions for the region’s infrastructure connectivity challenges. With this Forum, our goal is to help policy-makers, planners and infrastructure operators across the region translate these challenges into concrete policy and planning decisions.

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C. Patrick Sankey
President & CEO
International Road Federation

Improving the connectivity within the Western Balkan region as well as between the Western Balkans and the European Union is a key factor in the process of enhancing competitiveness of the region and further advancement of growth and employment. Current trends of regional and economic integration bring about numerous changes in all segments of everyday life. Transport integration of the region is one of key priorities of the enlargement policy, evidenced by the fact that by 2020 the European Commission will allocate grants amounting up to a billion euro for the co-financing of infrastructure transport projects in the region.

Transport, in a time of intensive globalization, is a basis of all economic activities and a pre-condition for the quality of life of citizens. Continuous engagement in the resolution of transport related issues at all decision-making levels should ensure efficient business activities, the quality of transport and logistics services with the aim of accelerating economic growth and development.

The Chamber of Economy has been authorized for a number of years to conduct public powers in the field of road transport and, according to user evaluation, has been conducting these activities in a very professional manner. The activities related to the education of human resources, conducted by the Education Center in Road Transport of the Chamber of Economy are verified by the IRU Academy, thus licensing the Center as the only institution in Montenegro for performing these activities. Certificates awarded to the managers and drivers after successful trainings can be used in international road transport of passengers and cargo in all European countries.

We expect the Transport Connectivity Forum to define guidelines, which will contribute to further development of this significant economic branch, the strengthening of cooperation between the Western Balkan countries, whose economies require faster and more efficient transport without any barriers. The Chamber of Economy in cooperation with business associations in the region and relevant decision-makers remains dedicated to improving business conditions in the Western Balkans, and to intensifying the exchange of goods and services, which require the development of transport infrastructure. Better road, rail, maritime and air transport ensure closer connections between our countries, but also with the European Union.

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Chamber of Economy

Monteput LLC Podgorica is a state enterprise formed by the Government of Montenegro in 2006 as a legal successor entity of the Highway Construction Directorate in Montenegro, with its headquarters in Podgorica. The main business activities of Monteput relate to the management and maintenance of tunnel Sozina, to the management of implementation of Bar-Boljare highway project and certain activities related to the monitoring of implementation of the expressway along Montenegrin coastline project.

Taking into account the importance of Monteput for the development of infrastructure in Montenegro, it should be noted that the enterprise puts significant emphasis on the introduction of standards in the fields of safety, functionality, maintenance and management of main roads entrusted to it by the Government of Montenegro. In this respect, special attention is given to cooperation with similar institutions from the countries in the region and in the EU.

Development of the process of construction of highest quality road network (highway and expressway) in Montenegro is in the initial phases. Currently, the construction of the priority section of Bar-Boljare highway in the length of 42 km is ongoing and the preliminary project for the expressway along the Montenegrin coastline is being developed. In this context, the Transport Connectivity Forum is the perfect occasion for exchange of experiences and knowledge with other transport stakeholders, especially in the fields of investment financing, digital technologies and implementation of European standards and guidelines related to transport infrastructure.

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Monteput LLC