PR91168

LONDON, Aug. 17, 2021 /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/ --

Henley & Partners [https://www.henleyglobal.com] is delighted to announce its

milestone submission of 100 applications for the Montenegro

Citizenship-by-Investment Program

[https://www.henleyglobal.com/citizenship-investment/montenegro]. Of these, 33

international investors and their families have already received both their

citizenship and their passports, despite the ongoing disruptions caused by the

coronavirus pandemic. The leading global residence and citizenship planning

firm is one of only three government-appointed marketing agents for the highly

sought-after citizenship-by-investment program, which is due to close at the

end of this year.

Rade Ljumovic [https://www.henleyglobal.com/about/key-people/rade-ljumovic],

Director at Henley & Partners in Montenegro, says the program offers

high-net-worth investors a significant opportunity in a dynamic regional market

but there are only a few months left to apply. "One reason for Montenegro's

success is that it caters for investors with a diverse range of interests and

requirements. Investors can choose between glamorous seaside resorts where they

can invest in new hotels that are being established by reputable developers,

including cutting-edge options such as the SIRO brand by Kerzner International

and InterContinental. Alternatively, they can opt for the northern parts of the

country, where there are exclusive ski and mountain resorts in advanced stages

of construction such as Swissotel."

Montenegro is currently on the EU's "safe list" of countries with relatively

low rates of Covid-19 infection, and its passport ranks 45th on the Henley

Passport Index [https://www.henleyglobal.com/passport-index], providing its

holders with visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 124 destinations worldwide,

including Hong Kong, Russia, Singapore, Turkey, the UAE, and the countries in

Europe's Schengen Area. As well as being a NATO member, Montenegro is a

recognized candidate for future membership of the EU, with the government's

chief negotiator, Zorka Kordic, recently giving 2024 as the target timeline for

Montenegrin accession. Last month, the EU Information Centre in Montenegro

published research findings showing that 73.8% of the population supported EU

accession, and 86.9% would vote in favor of joining the EU should there be a

referendum on the question. The EU ambassador to Montenegro, Oana Cristina

Popa, recently noted that the trust of Montenegrin citizens is motivating to

the EU and encouraging for Montenegro's accession.

Applicants to the Montenegro Citizenship-by-Investment Program

[https://www.henleyglobal.com/citizenship-investment/montenegro] are required

to make a defined economic contribution to the country. In exchange, and

subject to a stringent vetting and due diligence process including thorough

background checks by specialized firms, applicants and their families are

granted Montenegrin citizenship. The main applicant must be over 18 years of

age, meet the application requirements, and contribute EUR 100,000 to the

Government of Montenegro, designated for the advancement of local

under-developed, self-government units. In addition, applicants can invest at

least EUR 450,000 in an approved development project in the capital Podgorica

or in the popular coastal region of Montenegro. Alternatively, they can invest

a minimum of EUR 250,000 in an approved development project in the northern or

central regions of Montenegro (excluding Podgorica). Additional government

processing fees and other application fees apply.

CEO of Henley & Partners, Dr. Juerg Steffen

[https://www.henleyglobal.com/about/key-people/dr-juerg-steffen], says the

resulting increase in business activity and new employment opportunities

created by the program will benefit all Montenegrins. "Investment migration

enables sovereign states such as Montenegro to tap into a new source of

sustainable revenue without becoming overleveraged. In the current pandemic

environment, as in the wake of previous disruptions such as the 2008 financial

crisis, residence and citizenship programs create significant value both for

investors and for sovereign states in need of alternative revenue streams."

Source: Henley & Partners