The Minister of Finance, Sinisa Mali, stated that in the last three months, more than 10,000 favorable loans were distributed to the economy within the framework of economic aid measures due to the crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic, and that a total of 2.3 billion euros was paid from the budget.
According to the data of the Association of Banks, as he stated, by the end of this month, more than a billion euros will be put into circulation for companies that have asked for liquidity loans.
On March 31, 2020, the Government of Serbia presented the program of a package of measures to help the economy affected by the consequences of the coronavirus epidemic, worth 5.1 billion euros, which is half of the annual state budget or 11 percent of GDP
The Minister of Finance does not expect major shifts and negative consequences on the labor market until November 1, precisely because of the implemented measures.
He said that he was following the data of the Tax Administration and that more people were paying taxes and contributions on salaries than a couple of months ago.
“It may be absurd, but that’s the way it is. Some people have lost their jobs, but a lot of places are open,” said Mali.
As he pointed out, the set of assistance measures showed results.
“We have avoided the blackest scenario that existed or exists in a large number of other countries. Now we need to be smart and see what and how it will happen in the coming period,” Mali emphasized.
According to him, the only long-term solution for the domestic and other economies is to find a vaccine against the coronavirus.
“If the whole world does not solve the pandemic in the right way, and the only way is vaccines, the question is what will happen to the economy. We are not an isolated island and our economy depends on how other economies work,” Mali said.
He pointed out that at the same time, the Government of Serbia, together with the Serbian Chamber of Commerce and the Statistical Office, is currently conducting the largest survey, in which more than 1,000 companies are participating, which should show how economic aid measures have been implemented so far.
He added that this will help determine which sectors are more affected and which less, in order to know how to react.
“What we want is to have a database instead of predicting,” the minister said.
Asked whether there will be new measures to help the economy, he said that he is not inclined to big promises.
“After three months, the survey will show where we stand at the moment, where the problems are, what the suggestions are. So that a program can be made. With this situation in the budget, responsible economic policy, of course we will support the economy, which we have done in the past few months,” Mali said.
He also emphasized that the budget for 2021 is being prepared extensively, Slobodna Evropa reports.
