The partner network of the ŽIG “Ženski Biznis” Label project has been expanded through cooperation with the Microcredit Financial Institution Montenegro Investments Credit (MFI MI Credit), which officially became a new partner of the initiative aimed at strengthening women’s entrepreneurship in Montenegro by signing a Cooperation Agreement with BI Communication and the Secretariat of the Competitiveness Council.

Through this partnership, MFI MI Credit will provide support to women entrepreneurs, as well as companies in which women hold ownership or managerial roles, through credit lines intended for the development of women’s entrepreneurship.

The cooperation also includes an additional simplification of the application process for beneficiaries of the ŽIG “Ženski Biznis”. When applying for financial support programmes, beneficiaries will not be required to submit additional documentation or undergo additional verification of ownership structure and management functions within the company, given that these criteria have already been confirmed through the Label certification process.

The Cooperation Agreement was signed by Gorana Pavićević Ćetković, Director of the Credit and Leasing Sector at MFI MI Credit, Ljiljana Burzan Nikolić, Director of BI Communication, and Ivana Todorović, Head of the Secretariat of the Competitiveness Council.

Speaking about the importance of the cooperation, Gorana Pavićević Ćetković, Director of the Credit and Leasing Sector at MFI MI Credit, emphasized that the goal of this partnership is not merely declarative support, but the creation of real conditions in which women-led businesses become an important driver of Montenegro’s economic development, through more accessible financing sources and more concrete support mechanisms.

“Through the combined expertise of the partners, women entrepreneurs gain a strong ally that can help transform their business ideas into sustainable and competitive companies, which in the long term contributes to the stability and growth of the domestic economy,” said Pavićević Ćetković.

Ljiljana Burzan Nikolić, Director of BI Communication, stated that the continuous expansion of the partner network confirms the growing trust in the ŽIG “Ženski Biznis” project, as well as the increasing need to create a functional and long-term sustainable support system for women in business.

Ivana Todorović, Head of the Secretariat of the Competitiveness Council, assessed that partnerships of this kind can provide women in business with concrete support and additional encouragement for the development and improvement of their companies, while also strengthening cooperation between institutions and the business sector in creating a more favourable business environment.

As part of the ŽIG “Ženski Biznis” Label project, a network of partnerships with institutions, local governments, and companies has been established so far, while the Label has been awarded to 279 women-owned businesses in Montenegro, with the aim of strengthening their visibility, credibility, and competitiveness in the market.