Finance Minister Sinisa Mali said today that the news that the World Bank had increased Serbia’s gross domestic product (GDP) growth forecast to six percent this year only further encouraged him to fight for greater economic growth and living standards with even greater commitment.
Earlier today, the World Bank announced that in the autumn report on the world economic prospects, it increased the growth forecast of Serbia for 2021 by one percent, to six percent.
Mali reminded that in January, the World Bank predicted the growth of Serbia by 3.1 percent, which means that it increased its projection by as much as 2.9 percent.
“I believe that we surprised everyone, even them, with our results. Serbia, in the conditions of the biggest world economic crisis, shows how vital and resilient its economy is. I believe that the state is also responsible for the partial success because we had an ear for demands businessmen and we are trying to establish a partnership with her, based on trust,” Mali said in a statement.
He added that he was convinced that the World Bank would once again revise its growth projections for Serbia this year, to seven percent.
He stated that this is the best answer to all those who criticize the economic policy of Serbia.
“There is no better denial than when your success measures and recognizes the world. As the end of the year approaches, our efforts to keep the economy at high levels, responsible fiscal and economic policy, will be confirmed by many others and this will be reflected in a stable growth and a constant inflow of investments, which amounted to 2.14 billion euros in the first seven months of this year alone,” said Mali and reminded that the IMF had increased its projections to six percent of Serbia’s GDP growth earlier in May.
He announced that the budget for 2022 will be economically, financially and socially balanced.
“Next year, we expect a budget deficit of about three percent of GDP. The available fiscal space in 2022 will be determined for continued investments in capital investments and the health system, a moderate increase in pensions and salaries in the public sector and continued tax relief for the economy, they are designed so as not to jeopardize the stability of public finances and the pace of reduction of public debt, then to maintain the living standard of the population and help economic development,” said Mali, Novi Magazin reports.
