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New gov't fully stabilizes Serbia in first 100 days: PM

Xinhua, November 19, 2016 Adjust font size:

The biggest achievement of the government so far were full stabilization and progress of the Serbian economy, along with progress in European integration and good relations with both Eastern and Western countries, Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic said Saturday.

Addressing the conference at the Zvezdara Park of Science and Technology in Belgrade at a presentation of the government's achievements in the first 100 days of their mandate, Vucic said that Serbia's security is on a high level.

"Serbia is one of the pillars of regional stability. It is firmly set on its European course, at the same time protecting its independence, sovereignty and good relations with all our friends -- Russia, China, Turkey, the United States and other countries," Vucic said.

The Current government of Serbia was elected on Aug. 11 in the parliament following the victory of the coalition around Vucic's Serbian Progressive Party at the April 24 snap elections.

The previous government presided by Vucic was dissolved on his own request two years ahead of schedule so that people would allow them a fresh term to finish all EU-related reforms by 2020 and lead the country to its full membership.

Pointing out to the progress of the country's economy, Vucic said Serbia is much more efficient in collecting taxes, reducing public indebtedness as well as that it managed to cut unemployment by 9 percent.

"Growth was also marked in manufacturing and construction industry as well as agriculture, sector of services and trade in the first eight months of this year," he noted.

Vucic said inflation for 2016 will be around one percent and estimated the "growth rate will be highest so far despite consolidation measures that the country has implemented".

"Many did not believe when I said that we will have a GDP growth bigger than 2.7 percent this year and it turned out true. I predict that next year it will be more than 3.5 percent," Vucic announced.

At the same time he reminded that the government raised minimum wage prescribed by the law by more than 7 percent both in public and private sectors, and announced the aim in the future will be to turn Serbia into a modern country and raise living standard with growth of GDP over three percent in the following years. Endit