The Boka Fund [1] brought this weekend to Montenegro a number of capital investors, mainly coming from Monaco, and several representatives of the European aristocracy, including Prince Nicolas Petrovic Njegos, a descendant of the Russian Imperial Dynasty — Dmitri Romanovich Prince Romanovsky-Cheremetev [2] [3], as well as members of the Monaco Grimaldis. The delegation visited Cetinje, Kotor and Becici to present to a panel of potential investors all the possibilities of investment in the youngest European state. The visit was co-organised with the Montenegro Stars Hotel Group, co-owned by Žarko Radulović, who said about the event that “it is a great opportunity for further development of tourism in our country, above all, at the high end.”

The visit of the Boka Fund’s delegation, as underlined by one of its founders and managers, John Kennedy [4], is a step for further investments in Montenegro, mainly in tourism. “The Fund, established a year and a half ago, includes not only famous European aristocratic families, but also people from the world of business interested in investing in Montenegro,” explained for Republika John Kennedy, who started the project “Boka Fund” seven years ago when arriving in Montenegro. “After speaking with people from the business world, first in London, then on the continent, we came to the idea to gather a group of financiers under one roof to enter the Montenegrin market with larger capital, which is the only purpose for the existance of our Fund,” reminded the English businessman, whose Montenegrin roots are the main reason to choose our country [5].

The Fund has already started several investments but, according to Kennedy’s words, bigger investments are expected in the near future. “We are planning our biggest project now and a very big investment. It is the construction of an entire touristic settlement, which would include, beside standard touristic elements, hospitals, schools and a complete structure which will be profitable to the population,” Kennedy announced, adding that “details for this project are being made and its realisation is almost certain.” Although Kennedy did not want to reveal the location where this touristic town could be, it is assumed that it will be somewhere between Kotor and Tivat. Speaking of investments, amounts are estimated between €100 and €150 million per project. Kennedy underlined that one of the obligations of the Fund is to respect environment and the traditional Montenegrin architecture.

Prince Nicolas Petrovic Njegos, who is in charge of architecture, plays a key role in Boka Fund’s projects. “He is a very important element in our projects, where profits are not the only aim. I think the uncontrolled invasion of investors must not be allowed, it could endanger the surroundings of this area and actually make more damage than benefit in long terms,” Kennedy underlined also adding that, in the Fund’s projects, very great significance is given to environment. “People come here because of the surroundings, so our aim is not to build New York in Montenegro. That’s why the role of Prince Nicolas is important, he understands Montenegro and carries within himself the Montenegrin spirit, necessary for our aims,” Kennedy says, underlining one more time that the purpose of the Boka Fund is not to make a “boom” and then, when it takes profit, “run away”. “Our intention is to stay here” concluded the manager and founder of the Fund who, together with friends and business partners, after a visit to King Nikola I’s Palace and a bow to the icon of “Our Lady of Philermos” , was the guest of the Capital’s Mayor, Dr Milovan Janković. The first citizen of Cetinje introduced the guests with priorities of the town in the branch of tourism, expressing his expectation that activities of the Fund will have a significant role in development of the Capital.

For Prince Nicolas Petrovic Njegos, Prince Dmitri and his wife Dorrit Reventlow, members of the Monaco Grimaldis, as well as a number of investors, after the visit to Cetinje, a cocktail and a formal dinner was organised in the restaurant “Window of Montenegro” of Hotel Splendid at Becici. “In the past year and a half, I was in Montenegro several times. I like this country and I am one of the investors. As one of the directors of the Boka Fund, I believe that we presented Montenegro to foreign investors in the right way, as a country with a potential for development. We spoke to people from England, Ireland and European countries, with potential American investors, and in that way introduced Montenegro in the idea of Wild beauty,” underlined for Republika Simon Piggott [1] who also added that Montenegro must adopt a masterplan to attract interested foreign investors, in accordance with nature’s protection. “I am very concerned by environment. I come from Monaco whose ruler, Albert II, is fighting for the protection of natural environment. The attitude of Prince Nicolas towards nature is the same. I think that the Government of Montenegro must propose or draft a masterplan to attract foreign investors in order to allow development of a respectful tourism at a high level. The most important thing is that, what is constructed with foreign investments, fits into the natural beauty of the country,” Piggott explained. Boka Fund invited local authorities to co-operate in Montenegro in order to achieve projects that will last through time and fit into the concept of Wild Beauty.

Alessandro Grimaldi, descendant of the famous Grimaldi family and cousin [6] of the Monaco ruler, Albert II, is enchanted with the beauties of Montenegro. “You should believe in your country’s potentials. I think you will achieve rapid economic growth soon, which will result in a great number of tourists. You must continue to build infrastructure and to be open for further investments,” Grimaldi underlined, talking about impressions of other members of the delegation, mostly significant and influential investors from Monaco. “I hope that co-operation between Montenegro and Monaco will grow. I think that every member of the delegation are impressed by all what they saw in Montenegro,” Grimaldi said.

At the end of the official part of the visit, Prince Nicolas Petrovic Njegos expessed his pleasure with having the opportunity to show all the beauties of his country to foreign investors. “I’ve known them from before, they are very good people and successful partners, and what is most important, they got into the heart the Montenegrin spirit. We found each other on the same wavelength, they get the philosophy of our entire project “Boka Fund” and they are already willing to invest in good projects,” Prince Nicolas concluded, announcing new visits of foreign investors.