IMF Staff Concludes Visit to Serbia
May 18, 2018
End-of-Mission press releases include statements of IMF staff teams that convey preliminary findings after a visit to a country. The views expressed in this statement are those of the IMF staff and do not necessarily represent the views of the IMF’s Executive Board. This mission will not result in a Board discussion.
A staff team of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), led by James Roaf, visited Belgrade during May 7-18, 2018. At the conclusion of the visit, Mr. Roaf made the following statement:
“Following the successful completion of the 2015-18 program, the Serbian economy continues to expand at a healthy pace. Growth is expected to reach at least 3.5 percent in 2018, driven by consumption, investment and exports. Supported by appropriate monetary policy of the National Bank of Serbia, inflation remains low, and is expected to reach about 2 percent at the end of 2018. Budget results for the first quarter of 2018 point to another year of fiscal surplus.
“During the mission, we continued the very productive discussions with the authorities on their economic reform program, to be supported by the IMF with a Policy Coordination Instrument. We confirmed agreement on policy objectives, including to foster higher, sustainable growth; maintain fiscal discipline and financial stability, and advance the authorities’ ambitious structural reforms agenda to further improve the living standards of the Serbian people. We have reached agreement on key policy elements of the new program, and intend to return shortly to finalize the discussions once the new Finance Minister has taken office.
“We are grateful for the authorities’ hospitality and cooperation. On this occasion, I would like to thank former Finance Minister Dušan Vujović for the excellent collaboration during the successful implementation of Serbia’s 2015-18 adjustment and reform program.”
IMF Communications Department
MEDIA RELATIONS
PRESS OFFICER: Wiktor Krzyzanowski
Phone: +1 202 623-7100Email: MEDIA@IMF.org