As part of the SAGRI project – Health and Safety at Work in Agriculture, funded through the Interreg IPA South Adriatic Program, a three-day international conference was held in Podgorica from March 25–27, 2025. The conference focused on improving occupational health and safety (OHS) in agriculture as part of a broader effort to create safer and more dignified working conditions in the agricultural sector across the region. The event brought together over 30 participants from Montenegro, Albania, and Italy, including representatives of institutions, inspection bodies, agricultural companies, the academic community, OHS experts, and international organizations. The conference was opened by Milena Aković, Marketing Director of ICT Cortex, in the presence of representatives from the Ministry of European Affairs and the Ministry of Finance of Montenegro. The opening remarks emphasized the importance of cross-sector and regional cooperation, particularly in the context of growing challenges related to food safety, climate change, and the modernization of agriculture. On behalf of the Ministry of Finance, whose First Level Control Directorate is responsible for verifying the eligibility of program expenses, the Head of the FLC Directorate, Kana Tomašević, addressed the participants. She spoke about the importance of participation and the benefits of such projects for Montenegrin institutions. She highlighted that cross-border cooperation programs contribute to the economic, social, and territorial development of border areas while also strengthening the capacities of local authorities and stakeholders for utilizing structural and investment funds within the framework of territorial cooperation as a key component of cohesion policy. These programs are designed to support local populations in border areas by promoting sustainable economic and social development, fostering joint efforts to address common challenges, ensuring efficient and secure borders, and encouraging collaborative actions involving local stakeholders from border regions. “The new financial perspective we have entered is based on lessons learned from the previous IPA 2007-2013 and IPA 2014-2020 frameworks, with the aim of ensuring the continued and smooth implementation of defined goals and priorities, which align with the EU enlargement strategy and Montenegro’s strategic objective of future EU membership.” In addition to bringing significant benefits to our citizens, Tomašević emphasized that the implementation of Interreg projects further brings us closer to European values and standards while enhancing the capacities of Montenegrin institutions and beneficiaries. She also noted that, despite being the smallest country in the region, Montenegro has successfully implemented a significant number of cross-border projects in recent years, demonstrating that we are effectively utilizing the available funds and opportunities provided by these programs. Finally, she emphasized the readiness of the Ministry of Finance to remain a reliable partner and provide support to all beneficiaries in the implementation of their projects during this financial perspective. Representing the Ministry of European Affairs, Slađana Pešić, the National Contact Point for Interreg IPA CBC Italy-Albania-Montenegro, addressed the participants. “The SAGRI project aims to improve working conditions for farmers and agricultural workers by adopting occupational health and safety guidelines. This is essential not only for the well-being of workers but also for the sustainability and productivity of the entire sector. Through joint efforts, we can create a safer work environment and ensure a healthier future for all those working in agriculture, in line with relevant European Union directives. The South Adriatic Program is one of the leading programs in European territorial cooperation in terms of capitalization, as it allows beneficiaries to transfer results achieved in previous projects to new geographical, social, and economic contexts. We are particularly pleased that, through this call focused on smaller-scale projects, we have been able to support new beneficiaries such as ICT Cortex, which brings valuable expertise in digital transformation and innovation. The role of ICT Cortex in this project is particularly important, given that this organization has recently conducted research and assessment of the agricultural sector and its potential in Montenegro. This program also offers numerous other opportunities to strengthen cooperation between institutions and organizations from the Italian regions of Puglia and Molise, Albania, and Montenegro. As part of the recently completed standard call, 43 projects with a total value of €41 million have been approved, with 49 Montenegrin partners participating, managing a budget of over €11 million.” Ms. Pešić also announced numerous new opportunities for cross-border and transnational projects in the upcoming period. She highlighted that the second call for projects within the Interreg IPA program Croatia – Bosnia and Herzegovina – Montenegro, with a total value of approximately €30 million, was launched on March 6 and will remain open until June 6. She invited interested organizations and institutions to familiarize themselves with the call details and participate in the information sessions organized by the Ministry of European Affairs in cooperation with partners from neighboring countries, scheduled for April 2 in Podgorica and April 3 in Budva. During the introductory panel, participants had the opportunity to gain a detailed understanding of the current legislative framework in the field of occupational health and safety (OHS). Representatives from the Ministry of Labor, Employment, and Social Dialogue, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Water Management of Montenegro, the Occupational Health and Safety Inspection, and the Occupational Safety Association of Montenegro presented national regulations, institutional responsibilities, and challenges in their implementation. Meanwhile, partners from Albania and Italy shared their experiences and examples of best practices from their respective countries. A significant contribution to the conference was made by Michele Dinelli, a representative of the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA). He highlighted key steps that candidate countries need to take to comply with Directives 2009/104/EC and 2009/128/EC, as well as with International Labour Organization Convention 184. His recommendations serve as important guidelines for meeting the obligations that represent critical benchmarks for closing Chapter 11 – Agriculture and Rural Development, and Chapter 19 – Social Policy and Employment, in the EU accession process. The conference provided a comprehensive insight into the state of OHS in agricultural companies from the three partner countries. Special focus was placed on digital tools and technical solutions that can improve safety in the

‘Digital Skills – Key to Career Advancement’ The job fair titled ‘Digital Skills – Key to Career Advancement’ was organized on July 11th as the culminating event of the one-stop-shop program aimed at enhancing youth employability. The event was organized by ICT Cortex – the cluster for information technology, innovation, design, education, and technological development in Montenegro, along with the Technical Research Laboratory TechLab. Over the past 6 months, these organizations have conducted courses on digital skills as part of the aforementioned program. The one-stop-shop program is part of the project “Inclusive Progress towards EU Integration – Empowering Civil Society to Effectively Contribute to Inclusive Development of Local Communities,” implemented in Montenegro by Forum MNE in collaboration with the Center for Youth Education, with financial support from the European Union and co-financing from the Ministry of Public Administration of Montenegro. Over the past 6 months, 45 young people from the central region of Montenegro participated in a digital skills course. This program included training in digital marketing, project management, and product management. Concurrently with the digital skills program, these young individuals also received training in soft skills and career counseling. The program aimed to educate and empower youth, facilitating their faster and easier integration into the labor market. The event brought together participants of the one-stop-shop training program and nearly 50 employers from civil, business, and IT sectors. It marked the culmination of the educational program and the organizers’ efforts to showcase the skills and knowledge acquired by young innovative individuals. Participants had the opportunity to present themselves to employers through one-on-one conversations, receive advice for further career development, gain insights into labor market needs, and potentially secure employment opportunities. The event was opened by Jelena Novićević, Executive Director of FORUM MNE, who emphasized the significance of the one-stop-shop program for both young people and employers. She highlighted that the organization has been working on improving and strengthening the program since piloting the model five years ago. This includes capacity-building through small grants programs, creating a support system for NEET youth in Montenegro. Jelena shared results from previous projects, which involved over 150 young people, 8 employability courses, and engaged over 250 stakeholders. She also announced an upcoming call for the 4th generation of program participants, which will focus on the northern region of Montenegro. The attendees were also greeted by Brigitte Kuhar, representative of the European Union Delegation to Montenegro, who emphasized the importance of the state’s investment in quality education that aligns with the needs of the labor market. She highlighted the readiness of employers to provide young people with appropriate opportunities for work and professional development. “It will require efforts from everyone to offer young people in Montenegro a better life and prospects, and to enable the economy to develop its potential with the help of qualified workforce. The European Union is here to support you in this,” concluded Kuhar. Following the opening remarks, a panel discussion titled “What Employers Expect from Future Employees” took place, featuring guest speakers who were representatives from members of the ICT Cortex cluster. Vesna Vojinović, HR Manager at Tungsten Automation, praised young individuals who recognize the need for additional and continuous skill development right from the start of their careers, alongside formal education. She highlighted that by taking this proactive approach, they demonstrate excellent initiative, which future employers will surely value. She encouraged them to take away the message from the panel to always nurture their authenticity and stay true to themselves during job interviews, being aware of their values, qualities, and areas for improvement. She expressed confidence that they will continue to successfully develop professionally in ways that fulfill their potential and make them satisfied individuals. Violeta Đorđević, HR Manager at Logate, emphasized the importance of feedback for young people at the beginning of their careers to facilitate rapid progress along their professional paths. She also underscored that employers have a responsibility to foster a business culture that includes providing feedback in an appropriate manner.    Aleksandra Bošković, CEO of Bild company, emphasized that the job market is constantly evolving, and that training in digital skills is crucial to prepare young people for entering the workforce. She highlighted the importance of stepping out of one’s comfort zone, continuous learning, tailoring resumes to meet employer needs, networking, and embracing opportunities for further development and training, as these actions drastically increase their chances of employment. After the panel discussion, there were one-on-one sessions with employers from civil, business, and IT sectors, where young individuals showcased their acquired knowledge and skills from the educational program and received advice for their further career development.

The Chamber of Commerce of Montenegro and the ICT Cortex cluster organized a presentation of the Analysis of the Information and Communication Technology Sector through financial statements for the year 2023 on July 5th. The focus of the event was on the ICT market over the past year, with particular emphasis on key trends and assumptions for positioning the IT industry as one of the key growth sectors of the economy. The President of the Chamber of Commerce, Dr. Nina Drakić, stated that the ICT sector achieves great results year after year. “Our ICT sector is one of the most dynamic and fastest-growing branches of the economy and, according to all available indicators, shows continuous growth and achieves outstanding results. Data from financial statements confirm this trend and point to the enormous potential that the ICT sector has for the future development of our economy,” said Drakić. The Chamber is dedicated to supporting all initiatives that contribute to the development of ICT and the digital transformation of the Chamber, public institutions, and the economy, recognizing that this is key to sustainable growth and development. “Our companies can develop advanced technological solutions that are competitive in the global market, thereby increasing exports and reducing the need for importing similar solutions. This not only strengthens our economy but also enhances Montenegro’s image as a technologically advanced country. Digitalization is an indispensable factor in modern business, and we are determined to return Montenegro to the position of a leader in this process in the region,” concluded the President. “There is a lot of room for the state to stimulate the development of the ICT sector. This is a highly potent branch that can transition into a vertical sector of the economy,” assessed the Secretary of the Association Board of the Chamber of Commerce, Nada Rakočević. One of the challenges in analyzing statistical data is that a significant number of IT companies are registered under incorrect industry codes and, therefore, are not part of the official ICT statistics, highlighted Milena Aković, Marketing Director of the ICT Cortex cluster. “The ICT sector accounts for 11 percent of GDP and employs 2.75 percent of the workforce. It is the fastest-growing sector in the last 10 years, accounting for 25 percent of total exports and providing the quickest return on investment,” said Aković. To create an insight into potential results beyond the official statistics, certain companies were mapped and the analysis was supplemented. This ultimately indicates that the total revenue in the ICT sector exceeded 750 million euros in the previous year. As part of the event, a panel discussion was held on the topic “ICT – How to Transition from a Horizontal to a Vertical Sector.” “ICT is making impressive progress. It is sufficient to say that it contributes 25 percent to exports, while a decade ago that number was ten times smaller. Now is the right time to consider our next steps in its development,” said the moderator, Valentina Radulović, Director of the Science and Technology Park. Ratko Nikolić, Executive Director of BI Consulting, stated that the ICT sector has quadrupled in terms of the number of companies and revenues compared to 2019. “If we consider the entire ICT sector as a whole, comprising IT services, telecommunications, and IT equipment trade, there have been changes among the individual segments in the recent period. During the pandemic year of 2020, the IT services sector surpassed the IT equipment trade in terms of revenue and was the only one of these three segments that did not experience a decline due to the crisis. From this, we conclude that this is an industry capable of ‘smoothing out’ economic fluctuations during times of crisis,” said Nikolić. The President of the ICT Association of the Chamber of Commerce, Branimir Bukilić, stated that the IT sector could grow further if it created and exported its own products instead of “raw knowledge.” “The idea is to convert the existing knowledge in our IT companies, which predominantly work on exporting raw knowledge for designers and innovators from other countries, into innovative projects and product creation. Let’s find a way to motivate them to develop and sell their own products,” Bukilić emphasized. During the panel, the importance of the S3 strategy was highlighted, emphasizing the need to create infrastructure for innovations and to initiate a new cycle of entrepreneurial discovery.