The Minister of Public Works of Montenegro confirms the expansion of the partnership with the UAE in the energy, tourism and data sectors

DUBAI, 5 February / WAM / Her Excellency Maida Adjovic, Minister of Public Works of the Republic of Montenegro, stressed the depth and strength of the strategic partnership linking her country with the United Arab Emirates, noting during her participation in the “World Government Summit 2026” that the two countries are linked by a package of agreements, the most prominent of which is an economic cooperation agreement covering 11 vital common areas, expressing her confidence in expanding the horizons of this cooperation in the future.

At the forefront of the strategic issues, the Minister, in exclusive statements to the Emirates News Agency, WAM, highlighted the energy sector as a fundamental pillar of Montenegro’s development, noting the huge and not fully exploited renewable resources that the country possesses in the fields of wind, solar and hydroelectric energy. In this context, she revealed an important agreement between the Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company “Masdar” and the National Electricity Company of Montenegro (EPCG) aimed at establishing a new hydroelectric station, which enhances the clean energy infrastructure.

In a context related to the digital economy and infrastructure, Adjovic revealed ambitious plans to establish an advanced data center, noting that the proposed site is one of only three sites in Europe that possess exceptional capabilities in the field of energy that qualify it for this purpose.

She explained that her country has a competitive advantage represented by the availability of the cheapest electricity prices in Europe, in addition to being the only country in the Balkan region that is connected by a sea electric cable with Italy to export energy. She said that these components open the way for Montenegro to transform into a regional center for data centers, in response to the growing global demand for storage associated with the expansion of artificial intelligence technologies.

In terms of tourism and transportation, the Minister stressed that air connectivity represents a top priority, stressing the ongoing work to launch direct flights linking the capital, Podgorica, with both Dubai and Abu Dhabi, as well as enhancing cooperation in the land and sea transport sectors.

Adjovic expressed her country’s interest in replicating the successful Emirati experiences in the hospitality sector, specifically luxury resorts, to benefit from the geographical nature of Montenegro, which combines the Mediterranean coast and mountains, which allows sustainable tourism throughout the year, including winter tourism.

Regarding the investment and legislative environment, the Minister explained that partnerships between the public and private sectors still face challenges resulting from the strict legislative requirements associated with the file of joining the European Union. She pointed out that her country, due to its historical background as a former socialist regime, still includes a large number of state-owned companies, which makes it necessary to strengthen cooperation with the private sector to accelerate the implementation of major projects and ensure quality, stressing that there are persistent efforts to overcome these obstacles.

Adjovic concluded her speech by addressing the axis of transparency and governance, pointing to the growing community awareness and citizens’ desire to follow up on local projects. She explained that the Ministry of Public Works, whose services touch daily life, including water, electricity, health and educational facilities, is currently working on developing a “smart map” that will provide continuous updates on the progress of work in capital projects and explain transparently the mechanisms for spending public money.

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