Vice-President of the Government of Montenegro and Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Milutin Simović, visited eight entrepreneurs in Nikšić who implemented successfully planned investments and gained non-refundable support of the Ministry of Agriculture thanks to which they improved their production and competition, created new jobs, and raised possibilities for widening cooperation network with Montenegrin farmers.
Simović visited the following companies – Meat industry “Goranović”, companies for meat processing “INMES-MARK”, dairy farms “Srna” and “Nika”, cheese factory “Miljanić”, plant for processing and drying fruit “Montenomax”, plant for cornelian cherry processing, and slaughterhouse and plant for meat processing “MINIKO”. This year, these companies invested total of 1.470.000 EUR and that way they gained non-refundable support from the national budget and EU funds in the amount of 620 thousand EUR.
“Realization of these investments provided creation of 39 new jobs and it opened up possibilities for widening cooperation network. These companies deserve to be visited, supported, encouraged to undertake new steps in development”, said Simović during the press conference held in cheese factory “Miljanić”.
Simović pointed out the importance that these investments have for our economy since, as he said, they create new value, provide sustainability of business, affirm available natural resources by producing high quality products that are a combination of traditional and modern. Some products have already gotten a European pass card – i.e. export number for the EU market. The example is meat industry “Goranović”.
“Their products are part of our array of domestic products which is becoming wider and wider, more comprehensive, more competent. Our products attract attention of a great number of tourists who recognize quality, freshness and geographical indication of origin. These entrepreneurs, therefore, deserve respect and we are according them that respect today with this visit. Respect for the entrepreneurial spirit, for all the risks you took, and for the vitality you express in the competition at the small and open market, facing major foreign companies and overcoming unfair competition”, said Simović.
The success of these companies didn’t happen overnight nor is it accidental. In fact, they have been maintaining and improving entrepreneurship and the tradition of work ethics for many generations.
Simović said that the objective of his visit was to get in sight into the challenges the entrepreneurs are faced with. He wanted to hear what their visions are so that they can project support programs with joint forces.
“Successful implementation of those projects will be a very significant impulse towards strengthening agricultural sector in Nikšić and Montenegro. We believe that these projects and measures of non-refundable assistance will serve as an incentive for other diligent people, young people in particular. We want citizens to believe that agriculture is their business- and a very profitable one”, said Simović.
