Pearl of the Adriatic: Montenegro

Located in the west of the Balkan Peninsula and lying on the Adriatic Sea coast, Montenegro is a fascinating country with its magnificent natural beauty, historical richness and unique cultural heritage. Cities such as Kotor and Cetinje, which are on the UNESCO World Heritage List, are also important places to visit with their historical buildings and architectural beauties.

It is one of the most popular holiday destinations in Europe with its 293 kilometers of coastline, crystal clear waters and various beaches. Cities such as Budva, Kotor, Herceg Novi and Tivat are among the tourist hotspots. In addition, activities such as hiking, camping and winter sports can be done in the mountainous regions in the interior of the country.

Montenegro gained its independence from the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro as a result of a referendum held in 2006. It aimed to develop its parliamentary democratic system, get along with its neighbors and integrate with the EU and Euro-Atlantic institutions.

In line with this goal, Montenegro gained EU candidate country status 4 years after its independence and was included in the NATO Membership Action Plan. Within the framework of these objectives, Montenegro became a NATO member on June 5, 2017. In addition, Montenegro, which has made rapid progress in EU membership negotiations, has opened all chapters.

There is no majority ethnic group in Montenegro, which is based on the principle of citizenship. Ethnically and religiously different communities can live together in harmony, the state respects all ethnic, cultural and religious identities, and in this sense, Montenegro exhibits a level of social peace that can be considered exemplary for the countries in the region.

The economic structure of Montenegro is dominated by the service sector, especially tourism. Tourism constitutes a significant portion of Montenegro's gross domestic product. The country hosts at least three times as many tourists as its population every year. The country's rapidly developing economy, strategic location and investor-friendly policies have made Montenegro an important investment center in the region. There are investment opportunities in various sectors such as real estate, tourism, energy, industry and agriculture.