MINISTER Siniša Mali spoke about the Serbian economy, current topics and plans for upcoming projects in this field.
Average net earnings in May
– I think it is very important and big news. For the first time in history, we exceeded 100,000 dinars in net earnings in Serbia. 12 years ago, the average salary was 329 euros – said Siniša Mali.
– With this profit from May, we are absolutely on track to reach the goal set in 2019 next year. In December, we expect to reach around 930 euros in average earnings. Next year, we will cross that magical figure of 1,000 euros – said the minister.
He recalled that some laughed at Vučić’s words that the salary would exceed 500 euros.
– From a salary of 329 euros in 2012, we expect an average of 1,400 euros in 2027. When you look at the average in Belgrade, it is now 1,025 euros. One Bor, which is now the driver of growth and development, has salaries over 1,500 euros, and they started with 300-400 just 12 years ago. Those from the previous government who left us the closed ironworks Smederevo, the average salary there went from 304 euros to 900. Is that enough? It’s not. We know that, everyone starts from their salary and wants better and more. We are aware of this and that is why we work, we build highways, railways, factories… – said Mali.
Employment in Serbia
– In 2012, we had an unemployment rate of 25.5 percent. Today, the unemployment rate is 9.4 percent, a record low. In the last 12 years, we have created 500,000 new jobs. Is everything ideal? It’s not. Is it better than it was, it certainly is, the numbers show it – the minister pointed out.
– Regarding GDP in the first quarter, it is 4.7 percent, among the 2-3 fastest growing economies in Europe. Public debt in relation to GDP is below 50 percent. European countries have from 120 to 150 percent. One Serbia has shown itself in these difficult times, the corona virus, the conflict in Ukraine, the world crisis, but we fought through it.
– Has the exchange rate changed? During the previous government, it went from 80 dinars to the euro to 120. A quarter of Serbian citizens were unemployed. Now you have a stable exchange rate, how much you earn, you know how much it is in euros.
Minister Mali states that pensions are on average 390 euros this year.
– In the past two years alone, we have raised pensions by 56 percent, that is a huge growth. We will see when we will raise pensions again. August, September, we will see how much space we have – Siniša Mali revealed.
– We have 744 billion dinars in our budget account. We have never had more money, and citizens should know that we are safe if a crisis comes, like when there was the corona pandemic and the energy crisis. The state, the government, the president are doing everything they need to make Serbia economically stable and attractive for investments. Stelantis starts production of new electric. of cars in Kragujevac – reminded Mali.
Threats to Vučić and his family
Commenting on the threats addressed to Vučić and his family, Mali says that the citizen could still see them in the previous three days in the Parliament.
When asked about the accusations made in the Serbian Parliament, that the declaration being discussed is used to “disguise the topic of lithium”, the minister says:
– It is interesting that no one from the opposition even mentioned the Declaration, perhaps the most important document signed. Lithium is a very important topic and we have started a dialogue. We consider it to be a huge strategic development opportunity. We are talking about the entire value chain, for Serbia to be a step ahead in the element that represents the oil of the future. Can we use that advantage? For the next 4 years, nothing will happen. We opened the discussion, we want the highest environmental standards and to see the opinion of the citizens. 2028 will be the earliest, and look at the general hype now. And by 2028, we will have new presidential, parliamentary and local elections, so if they get the support of the citizens for that, they will have the opportunity to prove whether the citizens support their policy. They have come up with an ever bigger, creepy campaign, horrible images and it’s not the first time.
– In the absence of arguments, when they go to the elections and lose, apart from those hateful words, you didn’t have to hear anything else from Đilas, Tepić or Ćuta. They promote such a way of communication, they are not interested in topics for the development of Serbia – says Mali.
– On the one hand, the topic is for 4 years, they don’t have another topic. What did you see apart from hateful words from the opposition. I want to ask all the citizens of Serbia, how would you feel if someone painted your child, your son on the gallows. President Vučić is the father of three children. Regardless of your political affiliation, how would you feel if you suffered such expressions of hatred on a daily basis?
About lithium
– You saw Chancellor Solac who was here, you saw the director of “Mercedes”, you saw the director of Stelantis, so it is about something that is the future of the world. The Czech Republic, France, Portugal, Germany, everyone is thinking about it. Our economy is doing well, our wages are rising, we are hosting EXPO 2027, we are building high-speed railways. The question is whether we have the possibility to go one step further, to use the wealth that lies beneath the earth while respecting all ecological standards, so that our standard of living increases, that I have higher salaries and pensions, that we develop Serbia – says the minister.
He says that the opposition has suddenly become an expert on lithium.
– For us, the share of public debt in GDP is below 50 percent, after all investments, the level of Maastricht is 60 percent, the average of the euro zone is 80 percent. A small Serbia takes care of its macroeconomic stability. Imagine, we have almost 7 billion euros in our account, if we used it to repay the debt, we would have a public debt of 41 percent. There are few countries in the world that have something like that – says Mali.
About the investment rating
Speaking about the investment rating, Mali says that the goal is for Serbia to receive it by the end of the year.
– Investment rating is one of the three big rating agencies, they assess the health of the economy, as if you were going to a systematic check-up with a doctor. Serbia has never had an investment rating, we are one step closer to that now. It is the best rating, only the countries that are the best have it, Serbia will enter by the end of the year, I hope. From lower financing costs, lower investment risk, larger investments. All these are small things that make up the mosaic called economic policy, we deal with it in order to push our Serbia forward – said Mali.
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Source: www.novosti.rs
