The Minister of Finance of Serbia, Sinisa Mali, stated today that since the beginning of the crisis, which was caused by the pandemic of the coronavirus, the state helped the economy and citizens with 2.3 billion euros, by direct payments and exemption from tax obligations.
Announcing tomorrow’s payment of the third minimum wage, he said that the state has helped businessmen for three minimum wages so far with the amount of about 800 million euros.
“With the payment of this third minimum, we covered a period of three months, although the state of emergency and inability to do business lasted twice as short. We helped, I hope, both employers and employees. Employers kept the necessary liquidity and provided funds for wages. We now have a common struggle ahead of us – to preserve existing jobs,” Mali said.
The Minister stated that when the amounts of deferred payment of taxes and contributions, the minimum paid to the economy, as well as the money provided by the state through the Development Fund and citizens in the form of one-time assistance of 100 euros, are added to the figure of about just over 2.3 billion euros.
As he specified, 1,061 credit lines in the total amount of 51 million euros have been approved through the Development Fund so far, and the economy has been “relaxed” with 890 million euros as, and about 800 million euros were given for the minimum.
Mali reminded that commercial loans are approved through banks with a state guarantee and that so far more than 6,332 loans have been approved, with a total value of 526 million euros, and that they are working on approving another 3,449 loans with a total value of 453 million euros.
“This is not only a crisis of supply, but also a crisis of demand. We have to see how to stimulate demand, because it is not worth it for states to pump huge amounts of money, if on the other hand that money accumulates and saves. We need initiatives and entrepreneurship that will to find a solution for doing business in new circumstances. We are open to all proposals because only in synergy can we achieve results,” Mali said, Novi Magazin reports.
