On the sidelines of the Western Balkans Digital Summit: Dukaj and Neto discuss accelerating digital transformation and World Bank support for AI and cybersecurity

On the sidelines of the eighth Western Balkans Digital Summit, held this year in Herceg Novi as part of Montenegro’s presidency of the Berlin Process, Minister of Public Administration Marash Dukaj, MSc, met with Isabel Neto, the World Bank’s Digital Practice Manager for the Europe and Central Asia (ECA) region. The meeting provided an opportunity to exchange views on the achievements of Montenegro’s public administration reforms, with a particular focus on developing modern electronic services, strengthening cyber resilience, building a data centre, and taking a strategic approach to the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the public sector. During the discussion, Minister Dukaj stressed that the Ministry of Public Administration is laying solid foundations for a modern administration that truly serves citizens, with artificial intelligence playing a key role in making the daily needs of the economy and society easier to meet. “We have taken key steps towards drafting the first national Artificial Intelligence (AI) Strategy, which will be an inclusive process open to the entire community—from academia to innovative start-ups.” The World Bank’s Digital Practice Manager, Isabel Neto, praised Montenegro’s efforts to implement comprehensive digital reforms and its commitment to regional cooperation in areas such as cybersecurity and digital infrastructure. The interlocutors concluded that continued cooperation between the Ministry of Public Administration and the World Bank would accelerate the effective implementation of planned digital solutions, making public services in Montenegro faster, safer, and more accessible to all citizens.