UAE Government Experience Exchange Office Explores Collaboration With Montenegro For Government Modernisation

The UAE Government Experience Exchange Office recently visited Podgorica to explore collaboration with Montenegro in government modernisation. Abdulla Nasser Lootah, Assistant Minister of Cabinet Affairs for Competitiveness and Experience Exchange, led the UAE delegation. The visit aimed to strengthen ties under the Government Experience Exchange Programme, focusing on areas like digital governance, innovation, technology, and public services.

During discussions with Maraš Dukaj, Montenegro's Minister of Public Administration, the focus was on digital transformation and government accelerators. Another meeting with Danilo Šaranović, Minister of Interior, highlighted advancements in internal security systems and cybersecurity. These talks aimed to enhance digital governance and institutional capacity-building through sustainable partnerships.

Lootah also met Valentina Radulović from the Science and Technology Park to discuss innovation ecosystems. They explored tech entrepreneurship projects and potential collaboration in innovation accelerators. Further discussions with Ivana Janković focused on national innovation support programs and policy exchange mechanisms.

Meetings with Matija Medojević from the Ministry of Energy and Mining covered sustainable energy cooperation. They discussed green transition technologies and climate-oriented initiatives. A session with Zorana Sekulović reviewed the UAE’s experience in natural resource management and energy efficiency frameworks.

In tourism, Vuk Žižić from the Ministry of Tourism explored knowledge-sharing opportunities in sustainable tourism. They discussed global destination promotion strategies to enhance tourism experiences. These meetings aimed to foster collaboration in various sectors for mutual benefit.

Dragana Janinović from the Digital Health Directorate outlined potential collaboration in healthcare digital transformation. The focus was on sharing experiences in e-health systems to improve healthcare services. This aligns with both countries' goals to modernise public services through digital solutions.

The visit also included a meeting with Milica Perišić, Foreign Policy Advisor to the Prime Minister. They discussed frameworks for broadening future cooperation in experience exchange between the two nations. This initiative aims to build institutional capabilities through strategic planning and service excellence.

Lootah emphasised that this partnership enjoys full support from both countries' leaderships. "The visit offered a valuable platform to explore future pathways of collaboration in the most impactful areas of government framework and society development," he stated. The discussions followed up on a Cooperation Agreement signed during the World Governments Summit 2025 last February.

Launched in 2018, the Government Experience Exchange Programme shares best practices globally. It fosters collaboration in modernisation by building institutional capabilities through strategic planning, service excellence, and innovation-driven initiatives. Since its inception, it has established partnerships worldwide to improve government performance effectively.

With inputs from WAM