The American Chamber of Commerce in Montenegro and the Ministry of Sustainable Development & Tourism organized a roundtable meeting to discuss spatial planning and construction in Montenegro. During the meeting, Deputy Minister Danilo Gvozdenovic presented changes that have been made to laws that affect construction permit procedures and steps taken to implement a “one-stop shop” for obtaining building permits.

AmCham Executive Director, Edin Seferovic, presented the communal/utility connection fee rates in Montenegro vis-a-vis the Southeast European region and beyond. Also attending the meeting was Deputy Minister Sinisa Stankovic. Representatives from more than 15 AmCham member companies were present at the meeting.

During the discussion session of the meeting, AmCham members commented that rates to connect new buildings to utility infrastructure, such as water, sewer, telephone, and electric lines are extremely high. Members felt that in order to stimulate investment in buildings that are necessary for development of the tourism, manufacturing, and telecommunications sectors, a different model than the one currently in place should be researched to compensate municipalities.

AmCham members also expressed concern over varying municipal taxes and the methods used to assess fees to companies with a presence in more than one part of Montenegro.

AmCham members, in principle, supported the Ministry’s “one-stop shop” initiative which will make it easier for investors to gain approval for construction permits by not having to seek approval from all relevant agencies. Rather construction permit applications would be submitted in one place and it would be the government’s responsibility to gain approvals.