The position is also that it is time to change consumer awareness and for them to predominantly buy domestic products, that is, to develop the so-called economic patriotism. The Podgorica residents we spoke to say that they choose domestic products, primarily because of the quality, but also that ours should be made more visible and at more affordable prices.
The agreement between milk processors, retail chains, and the government has been respected, and domestic yogurt and sour cream are now on the shelves at 10, 15, and up to 80 cents cheaper than imported products. Consumers are also noticing that such subsidies are necessary, and that it is better to choose locally produced products for quality reasons.
"I usually buy everything that concerns domestic products, but it's sad that there are no domestic tetrapaks, because I see now that the ministry wants to finance the transport to Serbia. Why? The former Podgorica dairy had a machine for producing tetrapaks. Why not buy that machine in a dairy and produce milk in tetrapaks, and not import so much milk, use it - domestic, better quality, safer everything. Do you buy other domestic products? Everything that can be bought domestic, I mostly buy domestic, as far as I'm concerned. Why would we develop someone else's industry and ruin our own?";
"I buy these products that are on the shelves, that I need. Is price or quality the deciding factor for you? Quality, in any case";
"We mostly buy products from Nikšić Industry, their yogurt, we also buy sour cream and that. As for meat, meat products? Of the meat, mostly Francine products, their homemade ones. We buy both dried and fresh meat";
"Poor selection of domestic products. There are more products from Imlek and others than anything else. I try to buy everything domestic, which they would say, that is, Montenegrin," are the comments of our fellow citizens.
Economic analyst Mirza Mulešković also points out that a change in habits and solidarity is necessary when it comes to domestic production.
"And in this way, let's show the so-called economic patriotism and start buying domestic products as much as possible and thus increase their income, and therefore the possibility of their additional investment," said Mulešković.
The role of the state in the entire process is also very important, so it is essential, our interlocutor points out, to establish communication and improve placement.
"What is definitely true - Montenegro, as a small economy, cannot be competitive in terms of the sheer quantity of products that can be on the market, but what we definitely know, we all witness, is that Montenegrin products are at the very top in terms of quality, if not at the very top, and therefore it is precisely this quality of the product that should be the part that we need to promote and in that way enhance the Montenegrin product," said Mulešković.
By the way, in Montenegro, according to statistical data, only a part of the food is produced for domestic needs, the rest is imported. Livestock is declining year after year, organic food does not occupy a dominant position, and according to an estimate from 2025, about 50,000 tons of food or 83 kilograms per capita ends up in waste annually.
