He earned money in the States, then invested in the homeland

In Grebaje Valley, at the foot of the magnificent Prokletije, Almir Bektešević, a successful businessman from the States, originally from Gusinje, realized his long-lasing desire – to invest part of the capital acquired abroad in his hometown. Therefore, in the place where nature merges with tradition, he built the “Royal ethno-village – Grebaje Restaurant”, several-million-euro-worth investment.

Bektešević, who has lived in the United States of America for more than two decades, owns two companies for the manufacturing and sale of construction materials, but he is also a well-known benefactor who has never forgotten the country of his origin.

His “Royal ethno-village – Grebaje Restaurant” is a combination of love for the homeland, entrepreneurial spirit and tenacity to start sustainable tourism in the north of Montenegro without a single cent of the assistance from the State. Despite numerous obstacles, Bektešević says he is going to persist in his intention of making this region a recognizable one on the tourist map, but also, with his example, to encourage other emigrants to invest in Montenegro.

HE RETURNS TO MONTENEGRO FOR GOOD

Project implementation commenced on 21st May 2023 and the construction was completed in 27 months. The plan foresees the facility to be open twelve months a year. Bektešević plans to return to Montenegro soon and to stay here for good.

- The facility features 150 beds and a 220-seat restaurant. The food offered in the restaurant is traditional, homemade and organic, prepared using locally grown produce, mostly in Gusinje and Plav area – potato, homemade cheese, kaymak, corn and buckwheat flour, meat and eggs. Everything, he says, is produced locally.

Currently, six people are employed at the facility, but during the season additional staff will be required, which, according to his opinion, is going to be the biggest challenge. The restaurant was opened in the second half of September, and it has already had domestic and foreign guests. Bektešović believes that the facility will be open even in wintertime, since, he stresses, “one has to try – nothing is possible unless you try”.

However, when speaking about the support from the State, he notes that it was not provided at all.

- There is zero support from the State. No assistance whatsoever, just headache and problems – he says. He adds that this is his personal project, funded and managed by him alone.

During September there were guests from various countries – Australia, Israel, Czech Republic, Austria, Serbia, Croatia, Albania, Kosova and others. Bektešović plans to bring here his friends for the States, where he lived and worked for many years. He has already showed them the pictures of this region and plans a meeting at the Boston University Biology Department, where every year a group of scouts come who visit this part of Montenegro. With them, he says, he wishes to establish some kind of cooperation with a view to promoting this region.

He finds that the biggest problem is the relationship of the State towards the National Park and the northern region of Montenegro.

- In simple words, the State is unwilling to invest in the North. The President and the Prime Minister should come to see what is the road like from Gusinje to Grebaje, i.e. to my resort. For three years now, they have been promising the reconstruction of the road, yet nothing happens - says Bektešović.

He particularly warns about the state of the infrastructure, which he assesses as being disastrous:

- The road is in terrible condition, which I have to reiterate. The Government has for the past three years been promising funds for its reconstruction, but nothing has been done yet. As a result, the national Park and the surrounding area are suffering, since with the new road the number of visitors would be much higher, perhaps even two hundred times more. However, nothing has materialized yet – he adds.

The admission to the Park is € 3,00, and the guests, he says, who come to his restaurant enter just fifty meters inside the Park.

STATE PROVIDES NO SUPPORT

- I have no support from the local government, from the State or from the National Parks. I do everything myself. Not even the tourism organizations, local or national, have done anything - says Bektešović and stresses that he wishes for this question to be particularly emphasized – the State has not provided any kind of support.

He adds that he is the first investor from the USA who is investing considerable amount of money in the north of Montenegro.

- With this capital, I could earn more in the USA, but it is a pity not to use the beauties of our mountainous places - said Bektešević reminding that he wishes to help the underdeveloped municipality of Gusinje and to employ local population.

No matter how good a life he had in New York, Bektešević says that we must not forget where we come from.

- The country of my origin is Montenegro and we all witness the events and collapsing of its civic character. I think that Montenegro is big enough a country for all nations to live happily in – says Bektešević, who is now particularly attached to the project in his hometown despite having a successful business in New York.