The Montenegrin government is preparing an investment cycle exceeding €53 million aimed at enhancing the economic landscape of the municipality of Berane. Zoran Dabetić, State Secretary in the Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Northern Development, highlighted the importance of this initiative in revitalizing economic activity in northern Montenegro.
The investment portfolio encompasses a wide range of infrastructure and public-service projects intended to bolster the municipality’s economic conditions and improve municipal services and environmental management. Authorities are prioritizing the swift initiation of tender procedures to facilitate timely construction and procurement activities.
Key projects within this investment cycle include the construction of a new bridge over the Lim River, which is anticipated to enhance transportation connectivity and urban mobility. Additionally, upgrades to water supply infrastructure, including the digitalization of water management systems, are planned to increase efficiency and reliability in municipal services.
Environmental and waste-management initiatives are also central to the investment programme. Plans include establishing a recycling yard with a sorting facility to modernize waste-processing capabilities and align local environmental management with European standards. The programme further aims to regulate and landscape the Lim riverbank, continuing previous urban development along the river corridor.
Several social infrastructure projects are part of this initiative as well. The government intends to construct a new kindergarten along with an access road to enhance early-education capacity and improve urban mobility. Furthermore, healthcare infrastructure will receive a boost through the procurement of a hyperbaric chamber for the local hospital, enhancing treatment capabilities for specific medical conditions.
Additional infrastructure projects funded through the national capital budget are also on the agenda for Berane and nearby settlements. These projects include the Buče water supply system, the Daspiće–Zagrad water supply project, regulation of the Makva river, and continuation of the city bypass road. Urban development efforts are expected to encompass constructing a new municipal market, reconstructing Luška Street, and improving roads along the Budimlja route.
Government officials assert that executing this investment package could significantly influence both Berane and the broader northern region economically. Enhancements in transportation, municipal utilities, and public services are projected to improve living conditions while fostering a more favorable environment for investment and business activities. This programme is deemed particularly critical in addressing longstanding regional disparities between Montenegro’s coastal areas and its economically challenged northern municipalities.
In conjunction with these planned initiatives, additional funding opportunities through European programmes have been identified. Under the IPA operational framework for 2024–2027 and resources from the Adaptation Fund, further investments in environmental protection, climate resilience, and sustainable development projects across northern Montenegro are anticipated. These initiatives aim to complement national capital expenditures while reinforcing long-term regional development strategies.
The development strategy for Berane is seen as part of a comprehensive approach to mitigate regional economic disparities and enhance economic activity across northern Montenegro. The success of this €53 million investment cycle will serve not only as a local infrastructure enhancement but also as a benchmark for broader policies aimed at promoting balanced territorial development throughout the country.
If executed as planned, this programme could lead to substantial improvements in municipal infrastructure, environmental protection systems, and public services in Berane while simultaneously creating conditions conducive to stronger economic growth in one of Montenegro’s key northern urban centers.
