Podgorica (MINA-BUSINESS) - A business forum grouping over 150 companies from the region opened in Podgorica on Thursday in the organisation of the Montenegro business alliance and the Centre for entrepreneurship. Organisers expect contracts worth some $1.2 billion to be signed between the companies from Croatia, Slovenia, Albania, the Bosnian Serb republic, Kosovo, Serbia and Montenegro. Director of the centre for entrepreneurship Petar Ivanovic said the links broken in the region would best be mended through establishment of business contacts. Deals worth $750,000 were concluded at a similar forum organised by the Montenegro business Alliance in April in Pristina jointly with the Programme of aid to business in Kosovo.