In the first six months of this year, Serbia had a rate of economic growth of 7.6 percent, and we expect to be among the first three countries in Europe in terms of growth rate and recovery dynamics, stated the Minister of Finance, Sinisa Mali.
In the text written for the jubilee issue of “Blic”, he pointed out that it is expected that the economic growth for the whole year will amount to at least 6.5 percent.
“It is also important to note that our cumulative growth from 2017, when fiscal consolidation was completed, to this year amounted to 17.2 percent. In the same period, Croatia had a cumulative growth of 5.4 percent, Northern Macedonia 6.4 percent, Montenegro 8.4 percent, Bosnia and Herzegovina nine percent and Albania 11.4 percent,” Mali said.
He also pointed out that a new increase in pensions, salaries and minimum wages is expected in 2022.
When it comes to direct foreign investments, they amounted to 17.5 million euros in the first seven months of this year, which is about 30 percent more compared to the same period last year.
The Minister also stated that the budget for this year has allocated around 3.6 billion euros for capital investments, ie 7.2 percent of the gross domestic product.
He assessed that the current government has raised Serbia from a state threatened by an economic downturn to a strong, stable economy, a regional leader that achieves impressive economic results.
In that sense, he stated that Serbia in 2012 had a decline in the economy of minus 0.7 percent, GDP in absolute terms was 33 billion euros and today it is 51.3 billion, foreign direct investment in 2012 accounted for 2.2 percent of GDP and that net, while in 2019, for example, they had a share of 7.7 percent in GDP.
Mali especially pointed out the great help to the economy and citizens for overcoming the consequences of the corona virus epidemic, for which, through three packages, about eight billion euros, or 17.4 percent of GDP, were allocated, RTV reports.
