The British ambassador visiting the Municipality of Tivat

British Ambassador Karen Maddox yesterday, as part of her multi-day working visit to Tivat, held a meeting with the mayor of the municipality Željko Komnenović and vice-president Goran Božović.

Tivat's leaders talked with the ambassador about the current economic and political situation at the local and state level, the results of work so far, the investment plans of the local government in the coming period, but also the problems they are facing. The president of the municipality, Komnenović, pointed out that all the main activities of the local administration are currently focused on the tourist season and its smooth development, stating that, according to the latest data from TO Tivat, 20% more guests stayed in the city compared to the same period in 2021, i.e. only 14% less compared to 2019.

Komnenović highlighted the achieved successes of the local administration in the financial field and the excellent cooperation with investors, stating that the city budget currently has 6.5 million euros, and that the primary goal is to direct these funds to the improvement of local infrastructure, which is also reflected in the development budget. for the year 2022. "What is a problem is relations with contractors on projects that were started by the previous administration and were inherited with numerous problems," he said, referring to the situation with the capital project on Luštica, the MR2 road, on which work is currently suspended due to these problems. He explained that the contract with the contractor was unilaterally terminated last week, due to non-compliance with contractual obligations, and that in cooperation with the Ministry of Ecology, Spatial Planning and Urbanism, a temporary solution will be sought to urgently provide access to the popular swimming pool "Blue Horizons" during the current season.

"Work on the expansion of the approach road to the Tivat airport, as well as the water terminal, is expected to be completed soon, which is the reason for the visit to Tivat by the delegation of the Government of Montenegro, headed by Prime Minister Dritan Abazović," Komnenović said. He pointed out that the Municipality of Tivat will try to find quality and reliable contractors who will respect the contractual obligations and bring the started projects to an end. Among the planned investments in the coming period are the improvement of sports infrastructure and children's playgrounds in the city, as well as the completion of the Lungo Mare promenade in Krašići, where long-standing property problems with land owners were recently resolved. The public company for the management of marine assets is soon planning to start work on the construction of the coastal promenade from Donja Lastva to Lepetan, while in cooperation with the Government of Norway, the Tivat business incubator is being equipped.

Ambassador Maddox thanked the interlocutors for the detailed and useful information about the current situation in Tivat. She expressed her satisfaction with the positive news and noticeable results achieved compared to the last visit, especially in the field of achieving quality cooperation and connecting with the present investors for mutual benefit, which is especially important for a tourist town such as Tivat. On that occasion, she expressed her readiness for cooperation and presented the possibilities of British export funds to Tivat representatives, i.e. stable and reliable credit lines offered by the United Kingdom, which are intended to support the financing and implementation of large capital projects.

Among the topics of conversation were numerous cultural events during the summer in the city, as well as the entry of the Tivat football club "Arsenal" into the first league of Montenegro, which the first man of Tivat defined as a historic success that united the city. Stating that work on the reconstruction and improvement of the Tivat football field is also underway, Komnenović invited the ambassador to attend one of Arsenal's matches in Tivat after the works are completed, as well as this year's 17th edition of the Mediterranean Theater Festival - Purgatory, whose programs realized by the end of August.