USAID announces new economic development program for Northern Montenegro

Deputy Chief-of-Mission of the U.S. Embassy in Podgorica Stephen Kontos and the newly arrived Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of USAID in Montenegro Ramsey Day recently visited the local community of Gusinje and the municipalities of Kolašin, Plav and Andrijevica in northern Montenegro. During the visit to Kolašin, local and national media representatives were informed about USAID’s new program for the economic revival of the north, named “Stimulating the Development of the Northern region of Montenegro (STARS)”. The $10 million dollar, 3-5 year program will help northern Montenegro apply a systematic approach to private sector economic development.

The program is intended to harness the insights and energies of all relevant stakeholders in order to create a common vision and strategy that benefits local communities, increases revenue, and generates greater private sector investments. While the Northern region spreads over half of Montenegro’s territory, it only attracts 10% of the visitors and account for only 1% of the overnights.

This USAID program will work with entrepreneurs, small and medium size businesses and citizens, and the central and local governments, to promote economic development in the North by realizing its vast economic potential, especially in eco-tourism and agriculture.

The visit also provided an opportunity for USAID to engage with local government leaders, businesses and tourism sector representatives on critical issues influencing the economic future of the region and potentials for effective partnership under the auspices of this economic development program.