Baku, Azerbaijan, April 15. Montenegro welcomes
Azerbaijani investments and sees significant potential for deeper
economic engagement across several priority sectors, Deputy Prime
Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Montenegro Ervin
Ibrahimović said in an exclusive interview with Trend on the sidelines
of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum (ADF) held from April 11 to April
13.
He noted that these include tourism, energy, infrastructure, and
agriculture—all areas where Azerbaijan’s expertise and capital
could make a meaningful contribution to our economic
development.
“A prime example of our successful investment cooperation is the
Portonovi project, a landmark development on Montenegro’s coast
that exemplifies the kind of high-quality, strategic investment we
aim to attract and expand. Beyond these traditional sectors, we are
also eager to explore new opportunities in sustainable development,
digital transformation, and innovation-driven industries, which
align closely with Montenegro’s long-term strategic priorities for
inclusive and diversified growth,” said Ibrahimović.
The Deputy PM pointed out that Montenegro and Azerbaijan enjoy
long-standing, friendly, and constructive bilateral relations,
underpinned by mutual respect and a shared vision for deeper
cooperation.
“Our current priorities are focused on enhancing political
dialogue and expanding collaboration across key strategic areas,
including energy, tourism, trade, infrastructure, and culture. I am
also pleased to share our satisfaction with the rising number of
Azerbaijani tourists visiting Montenegro, largely attributed to the
seasonal, direct flight connection,” said Ibrahimović.
He recalled that the recent political consultations in Baku,
held at the level of senior officials from both Ministries of
Foreign Affairs, reaffirmed the shared commitment to strengthening
bilateral ties.
“Both sides expressed readiness to intensify interparliamentary
dialogue and to advance preparations for the next session of the
Joint Commission on Economic Cooperation—an important mechanism for
translating our partnership into concrete, mutually beneficial
outcomes,” added Montenegro’s Deputy PM.
Energy cooperation
Ibrahimović pointed out that Montenegro is strongly committed to
enhancing its energy security and sustainability through strategic
partnerships and regional cooperation.
“In this context, Azerbaijan stands out as a key and reliable
energy partner. We are actively working on developing the necessary
legal and regulatory frameworks to support energy diversification,
and are closely following what Azerbaijan is doing in our region in
this regard. Some strategic projects hold considerable potential to
contribute to enhanced energy connectivity in Southeast Europe,
with Montenegro positioned as both a beneficiary and a potential
transit route. In that regard, we are very interested in deepening
our cooperation with Azerbaijan in the energy sector, particularly
in the context of gas supply and investments,” he added.
Planned visits from Montenegro to
Azerbaijan
“Following the successful round of political consultations in
Baku, we are currently coordinating a number of high-level visits
planned for the course of this year. These engagements will serve
to further reinforce our bilateral agenda and deepen cooperation
across a broad range of sectors,” noted Ibrahimović.
He believes that particularly significant is the upcoming
session of the Montenegro-Azerbaijan Joint Commission on Economic
Cooperation.
“We anticipate this meeting will result in actionable steps
aimed at further strengthening trade, investment, and sectoral
collaboration, while also providing a renewed impetus for our
broader economic partnership,” the Deputy PM added.
Montenegro’s agenda at the Antalya Diplomacy
Forum
“The Antalya Diplomacy Forum has firmly established itself as
one of the world’s leading high-level platforms for dialogue on
foreign policy and global security. This year’s theme, “Reclaiming
Diplomacy in a Fragmented World,” deeply resonates with
Montenegro’s foreign policy vision and values. It encapsulates the
very principles we stand for—dialogue, cooperation, and mutual
understanding—especially in an era marked by increasing tensions
and global polarization,” he said.
Ibrahimović noted that at this year’s Forum, Montenegro
underscored the urgent need to restore trust in diplomacy as the
cornerstone of international relations.
“In today’s complex global environment, genuine dialogue is not
merely an option—it is an imperative. We used the opportunity to
engage in meaningful discussions with regional and global partners,
reaffirming our unwavering commitment to multilateralism, peaceful
conflict resolution, and regional cooperation amidst rapidly
evolving geopolitical challenges,” he concluded.