Speaking in a TV show titled ‘Odgovorite ljudima’ [in English: Respond to people] on the Federal TV of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro’s prime minister, Duško Marković, says he believes Montenegro will successfully respond to the economic crisis that the Covid-19 pandemic poses, just as it has effectively dealt with this great health threat.
PM Marković announced a serious package to support the tourism industry.
“The public misunderstood when we announced a €5 million support for the tourism industry. It is just an intervention for the salaries of tourism employees for two months, which the state will borne up to the level of minimum wage and 100% of paid taxes and contributions. We are about to prepare a serious package for the tourism industry, along with banks and the Investment and Development Fund, to maintain the investment in tourism, while ensuring the liquidity of the tourism economy to be ready for the beginning of the season,” he said.
PV @DuskoMarkovicCG za Federalnu TV: Pripremamo ozbiljan paket za pomoć turističkoj privredi zajedno sa bankama i IRF-om. Najavljenih €5 mil. pomoći je samo za plate za zaposlene u turizmu, za dva mjeseca. #CoronaInfoCG https://t.co/alUsTWweF8 pic.twitter.com/YfNvPUtxED
— Vlada Crne Gore (@VladaCG) April 28, 2020
The Prime Minister added that tourism depends on how other countries will act and whether they will open their borders.
He recalled that Montenegro has already opened its border at sea for nautical tourism, and that he believes that our marinas will be full of yachts from different areas in the upcoming period.
From the very beginning of the implementation of measures, Mr Marković said, we allowed our citizens the greatest possible level of movement and freedom.
“We had the minimum limitations on the movement of citizens, while allowing numerous economic activities in the construction and implementation of capital projects funded primarily in the area of infrastructure and tourism.”
PV @DuskoMarkovicCG kazao za Federalnu TV da turizam zavisi od ponašanja drugih država i odluke o otvaranju njihovih granica, ali da će #CrnaGora biti spremna kada se to desi. Crna Gora je zaista sigurna zemlja sa aspekta epidemije #COVID19. #CoronaInfoCG @MRTME @SeeMontenegro pic.twitter.com/RuMQ8T1R7A
— Vlada Crne Gore (@VladaCG) April 28, 2020
He also recalled that the value of postponed liabilities of citizens and the economy for three months towards banks amounts to €1.3 billion, and around €100 million towards the state, which is only a part of measures of the first package. The value of the second one amounts to €75 million.
Key lifting of lockdown measures will start on 4 May, when all entrepreneurs, small and medium-sized companies begin to work in their full capacity, according to PM Marković.
“The next phase of economic acceleration and the beginning of new activities is on 18 May, when we’ll put into operation hotels, restaurants, cafes, clubs, and we do believe that in this way we’ll start bringing back to life the whole country, so that we might put our creative, economic, civic and personal potentials into operation for rapid and urgent recovery.”
On the EU’s assistance, Mr Marković said that Montenegro received a €53 million grant, and that the latest loan package of €60 million has been determined after talks with our country.
He emphasized that solidarity is essential when in comes to the fight against the coronavirus and economic recovery as well.
