Europe > Montenegro
A technical assistance mission on external sector statistics was conducted for the Central Bank of Montenegro (CBM) during July 29 to August 9, 2024. The mission established measures to address the major sources for the large net errors and omissions (NEO) and reduced the average NEO during 2021 to 2023 from 9 percent to 1.1 percent of Gross Domestic Product. The mission also assisted the CBM and the Ministry of Finance in preparing the Template for International Reserves and Foreign Currency Liquidity—a statistical dataset that covers reserves-related data comprehensively.
1. Montenegro is a strategically located, unilaterally euroized economy. After gaining independence in 2006, the country was buffeted by the Global Financial Crisis. Following a period of tourism-driven growth averaging 4 percent in 2015-19, the economy was hit hard once again by COVID, contracting by over 15 percent in 2020. A strong recovery has taken root since 2021, and tourism has exceeded its pre-pandemic levels. The war in Ukraine has significantly impacted the economy through both real (via robust consumption growth due to migrants) and nominal (via inflation) channels, thereby improving its fiscal position. However, on current policies Montenegro's fiscal position is likely to gradually weaken once again over the medium term.
MONTENEGRO
On behalf of the Montenegrin authorities, we would like to thank the team led by Mr. Seshadri, for their constructive exchange of views during the mission and the comprehensive staff report on the Article IV Consultation.