The Chamber of Economy of Montenegro, in its capacity as the current presiding body of the Association of Balkan Chambers (ABC), held a regional roundtable on 9 July 2025, on the topic: “Public Powers of Chambers of Commerce.”

The main aim of the event was to exchange experiences and best practices, particularly in the area of public powers delegated to chambers by national institutions, and to identify common challenges and opportunities to improve and strengthen the role of chambers in the modern business environment.

Dr. Nina Drakić, President of the Chamber of Economy of Montenegro, stated that chambers of commerce have for decades been an essential part of economic systems, and their role has become even more significant in the process of economic development, investment promotion, and business growth. What makes this role even more important, she noted, is the set of public powers delegated to chambers through laws and bylaws, as these represent specific responsibilities that chambers perform on behalf of the state or in the interest of business entities.

“This makes chambers partners to government institutions in carrying out certain administrative and regulatory functions. Such a legal mandate demands a high level of responsibility, transparency, and expertise,” said Drakić. She emphasized that public powers are not merely administrative duties — they are a bridge linking the interests of different stakeholders, ensuring legality in operations, and contributing to the stability and predictability of the business environment. That is why chambers are continuously strengthening their capacities, improving procedures, and digitalizing services to respond to modern challenges and the needs of businesspeople.

“Cooperation with state institutions is key to the effective implementation of public powers. Only through partnerships and open dialogue can we create an environment where the economy has room for development and innovation, and the state has tools for effective oversight and support,” Drakić added.

Irena Vučić Popović, Deputy Secretary General of the Government of Montenegro, stressed that chambers of commerce — as institutions with a long tradition — act as a bridge between the public administration and the business community.

“The role of chambers is not only consultative and representative — it is also functional, particularly in relation to public powers entrusted to them for more efficient functioning of the market economy. The delegation of public powers — whether it’s issuing certificates, maintaining registries, conducting professional exams, or providing opinions in the legislative process — is an example of functional decentralization and building partnerships between the state and businesses. In this way, the system becomes more agile, professional, and responsive to real market needs. The Chamber of Economy of Montenegro has been successfully and professionally implementing delegated public powers for years, demonstrating institutional maturity and the ability to be a reliable partner to both the state and the economy,” said Vučić Popović.

She added that the Government of Montenegro, as a partner to the business community, is committed to modernizing the institutional framework, strengthening legal security, and improving the investment and entrepreneurship environment. “In this context, we are open to dialogue to improve the legal framework regulating the public powers of chambers — with the aim of greater transparency, accountability, and efficiency,” she said.

Igor Tasevski, a representative of the Economic Chamber of North Macedonia, spoke about the Chamber’s active role in promoting economic development, investments, and the overall improvement of the business climate. He emphasized that the Chamber provides analytical and informational support to companies, participates in drafting laws by offering opinions and demands during legislative processes, and promotes exports by supporting its members — all with the goal of boosting the competitiveness of the national economy.

In the domain of public powers, after listing those held by the Economic Chamber of N Macedonia, Tasevski focused on the ongoing digitalization of these authorizations, which is of great significance to member companies — especially in terms of cost and time savings. He highlighted:

·       Certificate of Origin – Since 5 May 2021, the Economic Chamber of North Macedonia has been issuing e-Certificates, i.e. digital certificates of origin (non-preferential and preferential Form A).

“We are proud that on 2 December 2021, the World Trade Organization, the International Chamber of Commerce, and the International Trade Centre awarded the Economic Chamber of North Macedonia the ‘Digital Champion for 2021’ award,” he said. The Chamber earned the “Digital Champion” award for its project on the digitalization of processes and issuance of e-documents needed by Macedonian companies in foreign trade operations.

·       Concerning the ATA Carnet, he noted the ongoing efforts to fully digitalize the issuance and use process. New security features and software have been introduced to make the system more secure and efficient.

Following extensive discussion, participants at the roundtable from regional chambers unanimously underscored the significance of public powers as a bridge between chamber member companies and state institutions, emphasizing that such powers enable more efficient action in the interest of businesses.

It was also jointly concluded that chambers must be operationally capable of fully implementing the procedures delegated to them, while the state should retain its supervisory role — highlighting the importance of continuous training for board members and professionals.

In conclusion, it was agreed that strengthening the role of chambers of commerce through public powers is one of the essential factors for a stable and predictable business environment. For this to succeed, the process must be accompanied by institutional trust on one hand, and continuous improvement of internal chamber capacities on the other.