Finance Minister Sinisa Mali says 2020 will see a large increase in salaries and pensions and that this trend will continue year after year.
In an interview with Vecernje Novosti, Mali said that the budget situation is good and that economic growth is expected to grow by four percent next year, saying that revenues are rising and expenditures are under control.
“By mid-year, we will know exactly how much we will be able to allocate for the raises. Because now it is no longer a question of whether there will be any, but when and for how much”, said Mali, noting that there will be no doubt that the increases will be in September.
He also states that construction of new kilometers of highways, bridges, clinical centers, schools will continue, which is covered by the Serbia 2025 investment program, and estimates that when that program is completed, Serbia will be a completely new country in terms of infrastructure and standard of living. He says 14 billion euros will be invested in Serbia over the next five years.
“Our priority in the coming period will be to work quickly to raise citizens’ standards, and you can only do so if the economy grows and is stable. We expect that once we implement the ‘Serbia 2025’ plan, we will reach an average salary of 900 euros and an average pension of 440 euros”, said Mali for Vecernje Novosti.
Asked if Commercial Bank will get a new owner, Mali said he expects that process to be completed by the end of January.
“The price is satisfactory for us and I expect the process to be successful in the coming period”, Mali said.
Asked why a bank that will end the year with high profits will be sold, Mali reiterates that it is not a fad but a commitment, but also stresses that in an open market competition where there is strong competition, the state has almost never proved to be a better owner than a private individual.
He also stresses that he cannot overturn the decision of the Serbian Government in 2009, when it pledged to end the procedure. He adds, however, that he would never have signed such a contract, which obliges the state to buy shares from foreign shareholders and sell the bank at a high price in advance, especially not in 2009.
