Prime Minister Ivica Dacic said late yesterday that there is no danger of collapse of the financial system in Serbia, but that a significant economic progress cannot be expected while the problem of reduced business activity persists in the region and countries of the eurozone. Speaking at the 15th Great managers forum, organised by the Serbian Association of Managers, Dacic underlined that in order to help the economy, the government needs to correct bad laws, speed up procedures and cut red tape.
He called on businessmen to turn to him with their proposals for solutions to the crisis and added that he had spoken with representatives of the company IKEA, which wants to open five department stores in Serbia, with the value of approximately €200 million and create 5,000 to 6,000 jobs.
The Prime Minister said that this would have a positive effect on domestic producers of furniture and wood industry, but added that this company ran into problems related to permits and land conversion.
Dacic stressed that it is important to work out a development strategy for the next five years, adding that, once all EU countries ratify the Stabilisation and Association Agreement, the government will consider whether there is a possibility for the protection of agricultural production in Serbia.
The state kept some public companies in state ownership in order to preserve the national interest, because citizens due to low salaries cannot pay the real prices of certain products and services, such as electricity, gas or telephone services.
He underlined that public companies cannot have the same goals as private ones, because the goal of private companies is to make profit, and it is questionable how much public companies can be successful at a time when the state slows down the increase of some prices.
Dacic announced today that the government will adopt the remaining bills which are important for the adoption of the budget, and expressed hope that immediately after that a parliament session will be scheduled at which a discussion on the 2013 budget and a package of accompanying laws will begin.
He announced that he will meet with representatives of the Russian Sberbank on 22 November in Frankfurt, which intends to increase its presence in Serbia.
The Prime Minister said that an agreement with the International Monetary Fund should be made in the first few months of 2013 and added that this agreement is not necessary for Serbia, but is good for the credibility of the financial system.
President of the Serbian Association of Managers and Executive Director of company Nectar Bojan Radun said that the government should focus on achieving economic growth.
He said that for decades Serbia’s imports have been higher than its exports, which is why it should either increase exports or substitute imports with domestic products.
Source Serbia Gov.
