Minister of Finance Sinisa Mali stated today that the ratification of the seven agreements in the Serbian Parliament, which are being discussed today, provides about 700 million euros which will be directed to support in the fight against Covid-19, as well as to increase energy efficiency and the so-called green economy.
Mali specified that it refers to the procurement of medical equipment, construction of testing laboratories, improvement of the so-called green economy and work on the construction of water supply and sewerage network in 60 local self-governments.
“With these agreements, we will push GDP growth even further next year. With their ratification in the Assembly, they become possible for realization immediately, and we can expect the first effects next year,” said Mali to the Parliament.
The agreement between Serbia and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development is worth 92 million euros and it provides funds for the purchase of additional medical equipment, training of medical workers, construction of regional Covid laboratories in KCV in Novi Sad and Kragujevac.
When it comes to the law on the confirmation of the Loan Agreement between the Development Bank of the Council of Europe and Serbia, that loan, says Mali, is used to finance the public sector, more precisely to cover the increased costs for the purchase of medicines and medical equipment. The value of the agreement is around 200 million euros and it can be used until the end of this year and next year.
The 44.5 million euro loan agreement between the Council of Europe and Serbia Development Bank includes efficiency improvements in 28 buildings, Mali said, adding that an agreement had been reached with the same bank to provide funds to improve sewerage in 60 municipalities and water supply network.
According to him, the program Serbia 2020-2025 fits in with that, emphasizing that the construction of the missing sewerage and water supply network and wastewater treatment plants in over 70 local governments will start next year, and the value of the agreement is 300 million euros.
“Already in the budget for 2021, we have provided over three billion euros to complete the missing water and sewage network for 70 local governments in the next five years,” said Mali.
The deputies are also facing a loan agreement between the German Development Bank and Serbia for a project to rehabilitate a district heating system worth 30 million euros, as well as an agreement with the same bank worth 20m euros to rehabilitate between 50 and 60 public facilities across the country.
Mali stated that the Law on Regulation of Public Debt on the Basis of Unpaid Foreign Currency Savings Deposited with Banks Headquartered in Serbia and Their Branches in the Territories of the Former SFRY Republics proposes to increase efficiency and reduce the number of commission members from 11 to 5, Dnevnik reports.
