Montenegro Accelerates EU Membership, Attracting Numerous International Investors!

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  Data shows that a large inflow of foreign direct investment has made Montenegro a popular investment destination

   According to new data from the Central Bank of Montenegro, from January to August 2020, the total foreign investment in Montenegro was 468 million euros! In August, net inflows of foreign direct investment increased by 23.4% compared to the same period last year. Even during the global pandemic, Montenegro has remained a favored investment destination for foreign investors, becoming a major focus of the European investment market in 2020!

   Over the past decade, a significant inflow of foreign direct investment has entered Montenegro, becoming an important driver of its economic growth. Montenegrin Prime Minister Duško Marković stated that since joining NATO, investments from other member countries have increased by over 64%, with total foreign direct investment exceeding 1.5 billion euros in the past three years, and over 3 billion euros in investments currently underway.

   The "2020 World Investment Report" recently released by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development shows that Montenegro's foreign direct investment stock in 2019 had the highest per capita investment ratio in Europe! Data from the Montenegro Investment Promotion Agency indicates that the main investing countries are Russia, Italy, Norway, Austria, Hungary, the United Kingdom, etc., with the tourism, real estate, and construction sectors attracting the majority of foreign direct investment.

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  Montenegro's tourism industry is growing rapidly, making tourism real estate an excellent choice for overseas asset allocation

   As one of the few countries that regard tourism as a pillar industry of the national economy, Montenegro has consistently focused on developing its tourism sector, achieving remarkable growth. The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) ranks Montenegro first on the list of countries where tourism is a strategic industry. In the next decade, Montenegro's tourism industry is expected to grow at a rate of 8.8%. If calculated at a compound growth rate, Montenegro's tourism industry is expected to have a 50% growth potential in five years!

   With rapid economic development and continuous growth in tourism, the investment value of Montenegrin real estate is also rapidly increasing! Currently, Montenegro is in the final negotiation stage for EU membership. Historical data shows that EU candidate countries experience rapid increases in property prices after joining the EU. Montenegro is reminiscent of the investment opportunities seen in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Romania before their EU accession, and its real estate market potential should not be underestimated! At the same time, as an EU candidate country, Montenegro has achieved currency unification with the EU, making investment in Montenegrin real estate also an investment in euro-denominated assets. In the current global environment, investing in Montenegrin real estate is a wise choice!

   Montenegro's EU membership is accelerating, and the Montenegrin investment citizenship project has become a shortcut to quickly obtain an EU passport; investment should be made early

   Currently, Montenegro is a country with a clear timeline for EU membership. The European Commission has publicly stated that "Montenegro may join the EU before 2025!" Good news is that the European Commission recently announced that at least one country will join the EU during its term, and Montenegro is the most likely candidate to join the EU. It is worth mentioning that the new European Commission was formed in 2019, and its term is five years, meaning Montenegro could join the EU before 2024, further accelerating the timeline!

   As a country seeking EU membership, the launch of the Montenegrin investment citizenship project has opened a convenient path for investors to obtain EU citizenship in the future, and the Montenegrin passport they hold may upgrade to an EU passport! The Montenegrin investment citizenship project runs from January 1, 2019, to December 31, 2021, for a total of three years, and legislation stipulates that only 2,000 applications will be accepted! As of December 31, 2021, there is only about one year left for applications. For investors in need, action must be taken early before Montenegro joins the EU!