Smart Growth, Green Future: Accelerating Investment in Montenegro (AIM)
Conference Agenda
The Chedi Luštica Bay, Montenegro I 14 – 15 October 2025
DAY 0: Arrival & welcome
13 October 2025
16:00 – 20:00 Pre-registration
Early-arriving participants are invited to complete registration and receive practical information ahead of the official opening day. This provides an opportunity to get oriented, meet the organising team, and prepare for the sessions.
18:00 – 20:00 Welcome drink & informal networking sponsored by Luštica Bay
A relaxed evening for early-arriving participants to connect with fellow participants in an informal setting, while setting the stage for discussions on Montenegro’s Smart Growth and Green Future.
DAY 1: High-Level Forum (Plenary)
14 October 2025
07:30 – 09:00 Registration
09:00 – 09:30 Opening ceremony & welcome remarks
09:00 – Short Film: “Smart growth, green future: Accelerating Investment in Montenegro”
09:05 – Milojko Spajić, Prime Minister of Montenegro – Vision for Green Growth & EU Accession
09:15 – Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission –EU’s Strategic View on Montenegro’s investment value proposition in the context of EU accession
09:30 – 09:45 Launch ceremony of the investment MoUs/Sustainable Investment Partnership and group photos
- Presentation of MoUs and Declarations
- Launch of four Sustainable Investment Partnerships
09:45 – 10:30 Coffee break
10:30 – 11:30 Keynote panel: Accelerating the Western Balkans’ green and smart growth
Overview:
This session sets the tone for the conference by exploring how strategic public investment, regional cooperation, and EU alignment can transform the Western Balkans—with Montenegro at the forefront—into a destination for sustainable development. The discussion will emphasise cross-sector transformation in energy, infrastructure, and climate resilience, while presenting models of how governments, IFIs, and private actors can co-finance the green and smart growth at scale.
Speakers:
• Milojko Spajić, Prime Minister of Montenegro
• Mathieu Bousquet, Director, Enlargement Coordination, Strategy & Investments, DG ENEST, European Commission
• József Váradi, CEO, WizzAir
• Eric Scotto, President, Akuo
• Charlotte Ruhe, Managing Director for Central and South-Eastern Europe, EBRD
Moderator:
• Biljana Braithwaite, Founding Partner of Sustineri Partners and Chair of Women on Boards Adria (WOBA)
11:35 – 12:35 Renewables: Scaling Montenegro’s energy transition
Overview:
Montenegro’s ambitious goal of becoming a regional clean energy leader is driving a rapid expansion of renewable energy generation, grid modernisation, and storage solutions. The panel will explore how regulatory reforms, advanced technologies, and financing structures can accelerate the deployment of solar, wind, and hydropower, while supporting the integration of distributed energy and cross-border energy trading within the EU market.
Speakers:
• Admir Šahmanović, Minister of Energy & Mining, Montenegro
• Daniel Calderon, Managing Partner Alcazar Energy
• Yann Guinard, Director of Development for Europe, EDF
• Louis Blanchard, President, Qair Energy
• Nemanja Mikac, CEO, ElevenEs
Moderator:
• Remon Zakaria, Head of EBRD in Montenegro
12:35 – 14:00 Networking lunch & exhibit visits
14:00 – 15:00 Unlocking sustainable agribusiness & tourism in Montenegro
Overview:
Agriculture, tourism, and forestry are core pillars of Montenegro’s economy. This panel examines how sustainability-focused practices, value chain integration, and green certification can create synergies across these sectors. The discussion will focus on aligning high-value agri-food production, sustainable forestry management, and eco-tourism to support inclusive growth and export diversification.
Speakers:
• Anđela Jakšić-Stojanović, Minister of Education, Science, and Innovation, Montenegro
• Dragan Bokan, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Voli
• Ilija Moric, CEO, Moric Farm
• Martina Dalić, President of the Management Board, Podravka Inc
• Borislav Kostadinov, Fund Director Green for Growth Fund, Finance in Motion
• Miloš Pavlović, President of the Management Board, Universal Capital Bank
Moderator:
• Richard Record, Lead Economist, Western Balkans, World Bank
15:05 – 16:05 Smart infrastructure & digital connectivity
Overview:
Modern infrastructure and digital connectivity are essential to Montenegro’s ambition of becoming a logistics and data-driven hub for Southeast Europe. This session will explore how investments in ports, airports, data centres, digital platforms, and smart mobility solutions can increase competitiveness, attract FDI, and accelerate EU market integration.
Speakers:
• Maja Vukićević, Minister of Transport, Montenegro
• Stevica Čarapić, Regional Managing Director, MSC Mediterranean Shipping
• Pavle Đurović, Director of Corporate Affairs, Legal Affairs & Secretary General, Crnogorski Telekom
• Milan Ljiljanić, Executive Director, Monteput
• Martin Jovović, Chief Logistics Officer, NTC Logistics
Moderator
• Maurits-Jan Prinz, Deputy Head of Unit, Private Sector Engagement, DG ENEST, European Commission
16:10 – 17:10 Financing the green economy and regional inclusiveness
Overview:
Financing is the backbone of Montenegro’s transition to a green, low-carbon and competitive economy. This panel will examine how public and private capital, blended finance, and innovative EU financial instruments can be mobilized to de-risk investments in renewable energy, circular economy, sustainable agriculture, and green infrastructure.
Speakers:
• Ernad Suljević, Minister of Regional-Investment Development and Cooperation, Montenegro
• Martin Leberle, President of the Management Board of NLB Banka and President of the German Montenegrin Business Club
• Magdalena Kouneva, Head of Sector – EU Guarantees for Private and Sub-Sovereign Investment (Open architecture), DG ENEST, European Commission
• Nikola Tripković, President of the Management Board, Development Bank of Montenegro and President of the Board of Directors, “13. jul – Plantaže”
• Nikola Perišić, Member of the Executive Board of CKB (Crnogorska Komercijalna Banka AD Podgorica) and representative of the MFIC (Montenegrin Foreign Investors Council)
• Nemanja Laković, CEO, Coal Mine Pljevlja
• Damien Sorrell, Head of the Regional Hub for the Western Balkans, European Investment Bank
Moderator
• Anthony O’Sullivan, partner, Whiteshield
17:15 – 17:30 A partnership for action
Joint communique on “Sustainable Investment Declaration for Montenegro” from the Montenegrin government, EBRD, MFIC and the European Commission
DAY 2: Sectoral Engagement & B2B
15 October 2025
07:30 – 09:30 Registration & networking
08:00 – 9:30 Strategic Investor Roundtable (by invitation only)
Overview:
The Strategic Investment Roundtable will bring together leading companies and key private sector representatives across priority sectors—renewables, agribusiness, tourism, digital, and transport—alongside chambers of commerce to exchange views on Montenegro’s recent progress and identify the most pressing policy priorities for accelerating investment. The discussion will culminate in a short review document capturing shared recommendations to guide future reforms and strategic dialogue. The Strategic Investor Roundtable is by invitation only.
9:30 – 11:00 Incubation & startup ecosystem – Towards a Station M
Overview:
Startups and innovation ecosystems are vital for diversifying Montenegro’s economy and driving high-value job creation. This panel will explore how to build a supportive incubation environment, leverage global best practices, and attract venture capital for early-stage, tech-driven companies.
Speakers:
• François Hoehlinger, Managing Director France, Plug and Play Tech Center
• Žan Dapčevič, CEO and Co-Founder of Academia, IBEX Equity Partners
• Valentina Radulović, CEO, Science and Technology Park of Montenegro
• Stéphane Vidaillet, CEO, Wind Fisher
• Atilla Arda Beşen, Founder & CEO, VolareVers
Moderator :
• Jean-François Lengellé, CEO, BT2i
11:00 – 11:15 Coffee break
11:15 – 12:15 Mobilising finance for high-growth & innovative SMEs
Overview:
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are the backbone of Montenegro’s economy, yet access to finance remains a barrier to scaling sustainable, innovation-driven businesses. This session examines financial instruments, guarantees, and risk-sharing mechanisms tailored for SMEs in tourism, agriculture, and green industries.
Speakers:
• Anja Nagel, Team Leader – Private Sector Development and EFSD+ Guarantees, DG ENEST, European Commission
• Bojana Femić-Radosavović, Executive Director, Innovation Fund of Montenegro
• Ewa Konczal, Market Building Lead, Impact Europe
• Frank Simonet, Chief Growth Officer, Ellipse Projects
• Matija Dautović, Principal Manager, SME Finance and Development Team, EBRD
• Arnaud Dauphin, Director, Western Balkans Regional Office, Agence Française de Développement
Moderator:
• Johannes Hainlein, Co-Founder, Okipa
12:30 – 14:00 Networking lunch
14:00 – 17:00 Animation of investment booths & bilateral meetings
One-on-one investment meetings
Exhibitors’ booths will be open throughout the conference. List of exhibitors:
• The European Commission
• The Montenegrin Investment Agency (MIA)
• The European Investment Bank (EIB)
• The Nature Conservancy/EcoTeam
• MKG Group
• Wind Fisher
• Okipa
• NLB Banka
• Volarevers