Home Public Relations News Press releases CBCG Governor Presents Montenegro’s Experience in Financial and Economic Inclusion at a Roundtable in Skopje

CBCG Governor Presents Montenegro’s Experience in Financial and Economic Inclusion at a Roundtable in Skopje

27/10/2025

Today, CBCG Governor Irena Radović attended a high-level regional roundtable titled “Advancing Gender Equality in Leadership and Governance” in Skopje, organised by the European Investment Bank (EIB), the European Commission, and the Women on Boards Adria (WOBA) initiative.


During her address, the Governor presented Montenegro’s experience in advancing inclusive leadership and implementing systemic initiatives in economic decision-making, highlighting key projects in this area led by the CBCG.


Speaking about institutional reforms, Governor Radović recalled the first national conference on women’s economic empowerment held in 2022, which resulted in the adoption of the Agenda for Women’s Economic Empowerment, a strategic document establishing the foundation for systemic change. In line with this Agenda, the Governor’s team prepared and initiated amendments to the Law on Companies, which were adopted by the Parliament of Montenegro in August this year. The new law, harmonised with the EU Directive on Gender Balance on Company Boards, stipulates that at least 40% of board positions in large companies must be reserved for members of the underrepresented gender by June 2026.


The Governor highlighted that this reform law represents a key step towards alignment with European standards and the creation of more inclusive and sustainable decision-making structures.


“Our goal is not only to reach the European Union standards, but to live them – through responsible and agile institutions, through a fair and empowered market, and through a society that offers equal opportunities for all. Montenegro aims to remain recognised as a leader in developing inclusive economic leadership and in applying European standards that foster growth, equality, and convergence with the European Union,” stated Governor Radović.


She placed special emphasis on the Women on Boards Montenegro 2023–2026 programme, implemented by the CBCG in cooperation with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the Frankfurt School of Finance and Management. The Governor noted that this programme has already produced two generations of participants – more than forty outstanding women from both the public and private sectors, who form a strong network of future leaders today. She also announced the launch of the third generation, through which the CBCG continues to contribute actively to creating conditions for a more balanced representation of women in leadership positions and economic decision-making processes.


Speaking about the We Finance Code initiative, Radović underlined that Montenegro has become part of a global network of countries actively working to unlock women’s economic potential. With support from the EBRD and the Frankfurt School, the Central Bank developed and launched an interactive dashboard – a digital tool providing a detailed insight into gender-disaggregated access to finance, marking a pioneering step in the region.


Reflecting on Montenegro’s experience, the Governor pointed to three factors that are crucial for progress towards sustainable and inclusive economic development: strong institutional commitment, cooperation between the public, private, and civil sectors, and investment in education and mentorship for women.


“Every institution has a responsibility to contribute to creating an environment where the potential of women and youth is recognised and encouraged,” highlighted Governor Radović.


This important event gathered representatives of institutions and the business community from across the region, as well as international partners. Opening remarks were delivered by Björn Gabriel, Head of the EIB Office in North Macedonia; Biljana Braithwaite, President of WOBA; Michalis Rokas, EU Ambassador to North Macedonia; Sanja Božinovska, Minister of Energy; and Tanja Mihajlovska Dimitrievska, WOBA Ambassador for North Macedonia.


Through the exchange of experiences and lessons learned, participants discussed how enhancing gender inclusion in decision-making could contribute to good governance, greater competitiveness, and sustainable economic growth.


The roundtable in Skopje provided an opportunity to strengthen regional cooperation, promote European values, and align initiatives that support stronger economic growth and convergence with the EU.