Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic said that it was agreed at Saturday’s meeting that the National Bank of Serbia should make some decisions that will enable better liquidity in the banking system through changes to the classification of certain categories of loans.
Cvetkovic said after meeting with most important businessmen, representatives of major banks and business associations that it was agreed that this should be the first in a series of meetings to be held in future on a monthly basis.
He announced the forming of a group composed of two representatives of banks, two representatives of companies, the Governor and the Prime Minister, who will meet with union representatives to ensure that Serbia faces the upcoming crisis with least consequences possible and to secure macroeconomic stability.
Serbian President Boris Tadic said that Serbia will react in time to forestall the effects of the new wave of economic crisis whose impact is expected next year.
Tadic pointed out that great energy will be invested in order to create new jobs and keep the existing ones.
He voiced hope that Serbia will record economic growth next year.
Tadic said that many countries will face a new wave of recession and even the doubling of unemployment, but that Serbia will use all internal resources and attract investors to avoid such an outcome.
He said that he himself, as well as representatives of the Serbian government will talk with potential foreign investors in the days to come.
The President of the Republic pointed out that both companies and unions should take their share of responsibility and contribute to achieving consensus on economic policies.
Governor of the National Bank of Serbia Dejan Soskic said that there is room to correct the decision on the classification of assets and off-balance items of banks, which should allow for easier lending to medium-sized companies with liquidity problems.
Soskic said that during the meeting it was concluded that the initiative for the reduction in reserve requirements is not a step in the right direction.
The representatives of the companies demanded that the National Bank of Serbia should perform relaxation of the banking sector in a way as not to endanger its stability. This proposal will be examined on Monday, he added.
The meeting was attended by Minister of Agriculture, Trade, Forestry and Water Management Dusan Petrovic and Minister of Economy and Regional Development Nebojsa Ciric.
CEOs of large public companies – Branko Radujko from Telekom Srbija, Dragomir Markovic from the electric power industry of Serbia EPS and Dusan Bajatovic from Srbijagas also participated in the meeting.
