Q1. We understand you began
in the nineties importing 1000 Peugeot cars per year.
Today, you are at the head of the largest privately owned
company of the country, involved in several economic sectors.
Could you give us a brief overview of your range of activities?
A1. Vektra Company was established in 1990 as
the first private company in Montenegro, which was market-oriented
and directed towards European and world partners. The
company's priorities are investments, international
trade, management and production. The most important
investment of my company was the construction of a 40.000
m2 business complex in the elite area of Podgorica.
Vektra has also constructed the building of the Government
of Montenegro. It was our pioneer enterprise, in terms
of urban and architectonic plans for the development
of a European Podgorica. This company has also had a
role in the expansion of the city, and investment enterprises,
as well as in privatisation processes, and reforms of
Montenegrin industry and economy in general. It was
the first company to promote economic reforms. That,
also was a pioneer job, but I endured in it with the
faith that Montenegro can be a rich and contented country.
That could be realized only if every citizen is responsible
for his own destiny. And I am also convinced that there
is no rich society without rich individuals. Thus, we
need economic and political reforms, which will create
the conditions for the continuous development of market
and capital.
In the past few years Montenegrin economy went through
the disaster caused by sanctions and isolation, NATO
bombings, and shadow economy. The result was stagnation,
and decay of economic systems, and devastation of natural
resources. Vektra Company shared the destiny of such
an economic environment. Yet, owing to its strategic
partners, who had confidence in the businesses and seriousness
of this company, Vektra managed to assist in the preservation
of KAP (Aluminum Factory in Podgorica), and the strategic
repro-chain of Montenegrin economy. I believe that to
be the greatest success of the company I am leading.
The key investments of my company, apart from the dwelling-business
complex, is the Anode Factory - Anotech - in Podgorica,
and the firm of integrated transport Horizon Logistics
in Bar.
Q2. Could you explain us in more detail the establishment
of Anotech?
A2. Recently we have celebrated a successful
one year anniversary of the Anode factory, crowned by
the award of the International Certificate for the quality
of our products. Apart from aluminium, Montenegro has
another stock-exchange product now. I remind you that
a year ago, we rented, under the B.O.T. system, along
with the strategic partners from CTI-Miami, and Vencom
Houston, the Anode Factory, which was almost shut down.
We accomplished something that could be regarded as
an impossible mission, and in only a year, we reconstructed
that factory following European and world standards,
which encompasses the complete environmental protection
and human working conditions. The factory was reconstructed,
and the production process was never stopped. The entire
business was done under the supervision of top international
experts, who congratulated us on our achievements. By
the reconstruction of the Anode Factory, Vektra opened
a new page in Montenegrin industry, defined as "the
reform of industry". We proved a new approach to
the revitalization of the available natural and industrial
potentials and resources, and built a new model of business
conduct, which enables our factory to be a leader in
the anode production in the region. We completely cover
the needs of KAP and are preparing ourselves for breaking
into the international market.
Q3. You've planned to extend your activities towards
the media sector and you are planning to buy the modern
equipment for satellite broadcasting. What are your
expectations in terms of coverage?
A3. The reforms of economy and society also
encompass the change in the human frame of mind, and
accepting the western 'rules' of the game to develop
our country, and to put it closer to the European and
world integrations. In Montenegro, for instance, we
do not have the media that could keep up with the challenge
of the new era. No signal from any of the Montenegrin
broadcasting companies can be transmitted over the state
borders. At the same time, we are suffocated by many
TV signals, coming mainly from the neighbouring Serbia.
Thus, others tell the truth about us, and about what
we need. Besides, none of the Montenegrin media has
the capacities to become the regional TV center. Vektra
has a pioneering role, and thus we decided to form the
independent, professional and influential TV company,
which will inform objectively and timely both Montenegrin
and world public about all the relevant events in Montenegro
and the region. This might sound a bit pretentious,
that a media that is still in the process of creation
is striving for regional coverage, but it is precisely
in this point that we see the business opportunity for
that media, which would enable its independence and
objectiveness. The existing media in Montenegro, due
to their local features, and bad producing and limited
marketing access cannot operate on the market, which
makes those media directly dependent.
I believe it is in the interest of the international
community to form such a media on this territory. We
entered the serious preparation of projecting documentation
convinced that they could recognize in us a strategic
partner who could provide the transmission of signal
from the territory of Montenegro, and that the mentioned
signal will give a strong support to the integration
process within the region.
Q4. You have founded the company "Horizon Logistics"
which is dealing with the international transport and
the forwarding of goods. What are your development plans
in this sector?
A4. I have already said that, in the past decade,
Montenegrin economy lived through sanctions and isolation,
which left the country with serious consequences. Montenegrin
navy industry was almost completely ruined, and all
Montenegrin transportation companies along with the
railway company collapsed. With success, we have privatized
two state transport companies - "Moracatrans-Podgorica"
and "Rumijatrans-Bar" - and formed a completely
new company ("Horizon logistics") which grants
complete services in transport, storage, duty clearance
in international customs, navy and road transport. The
mentioned company works on the principle "door
to door". Our company gives services of legal marketing
and consulting, which include the registration of foreign
companies interested in operating on our market. Economic-
orientation and business wisdom are the principles on
which this company has been founded.
Q5. What are your current priorities?
A5. Vektra, with its reputation on domestic
and international markets, along with its strategic
partners from all over the world is ready to take an
active role in the economic reform and development processes
in Montenegro. We are principally interested in the
reform of industry, and our attention is directed towards
KAP - its reconstruction and privatization.
Owing to our new company "Horizon logistics",
we are interested in the development of sea transport,
and our team of experts is developing an investment
strategy for tourism. As I have already mentioned, we
are seriously preparing for opening a regional TV center,
and we expect that project to be realized by the end
of the year.
Q6. What is the exact role of your offices abroad
and do you plan to open new ones in any other foreign
countries?
A6. Vektra has an office in Milan - Italy, with
the function to establish contacts with foreign partners,
make contracts with our strategic partners, conduct
surveys of the foreign market, and conduct a great share
of businesses with foreign firms. Our intention is to
open some other representative offices in European capitals,
depending on our needs and our development. That will
certainly be related to the amount of our business and
the realization of our programs.
Q7. What is your strategy to penetrate foreign markets?
A7. Even in the times of sanctions and international
isolation, we have had an excellent cooperation with
foreign partners because of our business wisdom, and
seriousness. You know very well that the inflow of foreign
capital in the Balkans is difficult, but it is with
great pleasure I point out that my company has had no
problems with foreign creditors and banks. Especially,
we have had excellent results in cooperating with foreign
companies. Montenegro does not have a great assortment
of products interesting for the foreign markets. Along
with tourism and agricultural products, an important
segment is aluminium, and with its quality, our factory
Anotech has succeeded in providing another stock-market
product. Our business strategy encompasses speed, correctness,
business-wisdom, punctuality, credibility and efficiency.
Q8. You are the most successful private company in
Montenegro. What is the key of your success?
A8. All that I have made, I have made in Montenegro,
for my own benefits and for the benefit of my own country.
My country has exceptional natural resources, diligent
people and entrepreneurs. The key of my success is the
creation of new values, because I want to convince the
Montenegrins that their state can be one of the most prosperous
in the Balkans. My role for this period has been to think
of, and repair all what the others left to decay and in
which they saw no perspective. I believe in myself and
in new values. I should also mention that in a bureaucratic
society, a private initiative is impossible. Being an
entrepreneur meant being almost shallow-minded and irresponsible.
The poor ones could only be certain of political success.
And I did not want to be a poor man, to the same extent
as I did not want to get involved in politics.
|
Q9. We know you employ young
and committed staff. Do you consider it as a key issue?
A9. In Vektra we pay attention to young people
and their ambitions. In the company we have many people,
especially young people who have finished their secondary
education, University, and who speak at least one or two
foreign languages, the priority being English. Of course,
these people do not have enough experience, but in the
firm they gain both life and work understanding. In Vektra,
we have a generation which can take the main parts of
business and answer the main questions of market economy.
Just to mention that this company, as well as all the
companies owned by it, are 90% turned towards world firms
and standards, and work on international markets. Of course
in the following years our people will follow the outflow
of young experts from our universities, and we will employ
the best ones here. We also plan to establish a Foundation
that would sponsor and award the best students from various
disciplines. Even in the time of sanctions, as well, we
assisted the best students to finish their academic pursuits.
Q10. The key would be the best management of the best
elements?
A10. Yes, that is the key. The key of success of
every company is to have in all its parts top professionals.
Q11. What is your opinion on the Government's policy,
whose aim is to create an attractive system for the FDI
in Montenegro?
A11. The government of Montenegro is faced with
the strategic challenge of implementing economic and political
reforms. Similar to all other Eastern Countries, Montenegro
is in the painful process of transition. And in order
to implement the reforms we have to keep the social balance,
which has been a great state and economy problem in the
past decade. As a businessman, I believe that Montenegro
can be a rich and satisfied state, and that economic and
political reforms have to be implemented, regardless of
the consequences of the solutions to the problems of the
excess of workers and socially endangered people. Everyone
expects the Government to make an attractive economic
environment for foreign capital and foreign investors.
I believe that we principally have to define our national
and state interests. Allow me to be entirely open, we
need to have our own state. Our government is among the
few in the region that has to implement reforms, and at
the same time take care of the interests of the others.
Not seldom, those interests are conflicting with our national
interests. Here, I principally have in mind the new union
of states of Serbia and Montenegro. By passing numerous
reform laws, according to the EU standards, our government
has made very good initial steps. Yet the entire economic
and social environment needs to be completely established
in order to attract foreign capital. I believe that the
government will certainly do this.
Q12. You explained that as a result of the past decade,
Montenegro was economically weakened. During his interview,
Mr. Djukanovic said the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)
would have a key role in supporting the development of
Montenegro. Do you agree with his statement?
A12. I agree with Mr. Djukanovic that Foreign Direct
Investment will influence the economic recovery of the
country significantly, but after the investment has been
made, we have to keep it working I would add that investments
come where banks and companies are trustworthy. Investors
distrust managers of self-governing socialism, as opposed
to the open method of coordination of capitalism. So,
for 60 years we have had a socialism system, and people
who lived through the majority of that period cannot think
in a capitalist manner, and cannot accept market logics.
FDI will come to people who are trustworthy, and those
are the ones who proved themselves in the tough times.
Those people can promote the ideas of FDI the right way.
Q13. You mentioned the political situation with Serbia.
During a meeting with the President Mr. Vujanovic this
morning, he confirmed there would be a referendum in three
years. What is your position regarding this statement,
and what is, in your view the expected outcome?
A13. In order to hold a referendum, there must
be some basic assumptions, which need to be carried out
prior to it. The international community did not give
us that particular period (3 years) without a specific
reason. If Montenegro makes economic reforms, and all
the other reforms in education, culture, etc, and I especially
focus on economic reforms - because they influence all
the other ones - real assumptions will be made that Montenegro
can be an independent state, and a partner for the EU.
I am completely pro the independence of Montenegro. This
is not a reflection of national romanticism, which resulted
in all the disgrace in the Balkans, but an outcome of
economic and pragmatic reasoning. I am convinced that
Montenegro, with 650 000 inhabitants, and the resources
at its disposal within a good economic environment accompanied
by the support of the international community, could become
a tourist and economy paradise. Finally, we were among
the first states in the Balkans, with a defined national
interest, culture and tradition. We belonged to a family
of civilized people, and I believe we belong there, and
we can find our place there very soon. It is not only
my opinion; it is the opinion of the majority of population
in Montenegro.
Q14. You mean that before being able to talk about
any referendum, Montenegro has to fulfil some preconditions?
A14. Of course. I am not sure about the nature
of those conditions, but I suppose we surely have to carry
out the economic reforms before the referendum.
Q15. Are you confident that the reforms will be carried
out?
A15. Yes, I am convinced that there is no alternative
for Montenegro, and no other chance. I am sure that after
those reforms, the referendum would have its weight, value,
grounds, and international recognition.
Q16. You think it is a necessary step in developing
the Montenegrin identity?
A16. It is necessary. Montenegro, in any case,
as an independent state could faster carry out reforms
and create an environment for a better living. Of course,
as an independent state, it would not be the host of many
problems coming from Serbia, which it currently is. At
the same time, you should bear in mind that I do not think
of Serbia as a 'brotherly' country, but as a country with
which we should have a close relationship. Yet, what is
elementary, and what can surely be better for both Serbia
and Montenegro is for everyone to be the host in his own
house. That way, neither Serbia, nor Montenegro could
place blame one on another, and we have been witnesses
to such occurrences in the past 13 years. We currently
have a situation in Serbia in which they want to embark
on a process of independence, because they believe that
in such a manner their country could best valorise and
achieve its interests.
Q17. We've been told you are talented and keen on music.
Would you consider Vektra as a symphony of classical music
in which everything is well planned; an improvisation
of jazz music, intriguing and full of surprise; or a mix
of techno music, innovative and which does not mind to
disturb its neighbours?
A17. In these 12 years, we really were solists,
which in effect is not our principle. We like team work,
team music, and we want everyone to do his/her job well.
The essential problem is that we still do not have that
orchestra. And that orchestra needs to be made, whether
we liked it or not.
Q18. So we can expect a lot of lovely and innovative
compositions from Vektra in the future?
A18. I am sure of it. We have a strategy, and we
have our aims.
Q19. You said that "the things you believe do
come true". Obviously, you believe in Montenegro.
What would you like to come true in Montenegro in the
next 5 to 10 years?
A19. To every good-hearted person from Montenegro,
to every passer by through this country, to every person
from the international community, it must be clear that
we believe in our country.
If our government implements economic and political reforms,
and if we achieve our national and state interests, in
the following five years Montenegro could turn to itself,
its development potentials and the realization of its
own interests. Thus, there is a huge workload before us,
and we have to finish it without any utopian visions,
social-realist views and unreal hopes. I am convinced
that Europe should come here, and in order to achieve
that, faith is not enough. I am realistic, and I do not
expect much, but if we turn inwards, and create new values
we will have realistic hopes to enjoy in the fruits of
our work. Marathon, in any case, begins with the first
step. |
MR. DRAGAN BRKOVIC
