The Government of Montenegro has approved the 2025 Program for Enhancing Business Competitiveness, allocating €3.5 million to support the growth of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises. Developed by the Ministry of Economic Development, the initiative aims to increase productivity and strengthen the resilience, competitiveness, and export potential of the national economy. Officials emphasized the essential role these enterprises play in the country’s economic activity and highlighted their importance for long-term development, especially in the context of integration into the European single market.
The program will support several key areas. A significant portion of the funds is earmarked for the food processing sector. This support will help businesses upgrade facilities and purchase new equipment. Depending on their size and maturity, companies may receive co-financing of eligible costs, with grants varying based on the date of registration and total investment value. Established companies can receive higher grant amounts, while newer ones are eligible for moderate support to help them grow sustainably.
Another part of the initiative focuses on encouraging women’s entrepreneurship. This effort includes both financial and non-financial assistance for businesses where women hold a majority ownership stake. Startups led by women can receive a high percentage of their costs covered, with the possibility of receiving part of the grant in advance. More experienced companies owned by women are also eligible for substantial reimbursement after completing their projects.
The government will also provide assistance to businesses involved in health-related production or services. This support is aimed at investments in necessary equipment directly linked to the main activity of each company, with most of the project costs reimbursed after completion and verification.
All forms of assistance under this program operate on a reimbursement basis. This means that businesses must initially fund their projects themselves and will only receive government support once the investments are fully realized and the required documentation is submitted and approved.
In addition to the competitiveness program, the Government adopted a new initiative to support crafts and traditional trades, with a budget of €300,000. The goal is to help artisans purchase tools, equipment, and materials, as well as to encourage informal craftspeople to register their activities officially. The program promotes inclusivity, especially among women and young entrepreneurs, by offering higher reimbursement rates and bonuses to applicants from underdeveloped areas or belonging to priority groups.
Support is available both to those who are already engaged in craftwork and to newly registered craftspeople. There is also a dedicated component to help fund the purchase of raw materials, designed to alleviate the burden on microenterprises and individual artisans.
As with the business competitiveness measures, all assistance in this program is reimbursement-based, and funding is released only after project implementation and documentation review by the Ministry of Economic Development.
To support rural development, the Government also adopted amendments to the Agrobudget for 2025. These changes simplify the procedures for financing infrastructure projects in villages and rural areas, such as the construction or renovation of facilities, electrification, and solar energy solutions. One of the first planned investments includes co-financing for a continuous olive oil production line and equipment for the Olive House in Bar. Municipalities are invited to propose their top three priorities for infrastructure investment, while applications may also come from local communities, groups of citizens, or registered farming households. Each proposal must include detailed technical and financial documentation, as well as an assessment of the expected benefits.
