Finance Ministry, IMF planning new arrangement

Finance Minister Dijana Dragutinovic says that the government is planning a program with the IMF that will offer Serbia assistance in economic policy making. The program will help accelerate Serbia's EU integration process, stressed Dragutinovic, adding that the IMF program was not enough in itself to bring the market under control, but constituted a “good package“ when combined with other measures. Finance Ministry, IMF planning new arrangement At a press conference to mark 100 days of the Finance Ministry’s work, she stressed that the IMF delegation coming to Serbia on October 28 would be arriving as the first version of the 2009 budget was being finalized, which would have to be more restrictive than this year’s. The minister said that during the IMF visit, talks would continue on a new arrangement with the institution. Dragutinovic said that the program with the IMF would mean minimal spending for the tax payer and maximum benefit, as it would make fiscal policy sustainable and would set limits to increase responsibility when it came to expenditure, salary negotiations and productivity. She added that the program would enhance the country’s credibility by showing that risk in Serbia was less than in other countries, which would increase access to cheaper loans, particularly from financial institutions, for infrastructure, and for completing restructuring and privatizations. Dijana Dragutinovic (Beta, archive)

Finance Ministry, IMF planning new arrangement

At a press conference to mark 100 days of the Finance Ministry’s work, she stressed that the IMF delegation coming to Serbia on October 28 would be arriving as the first version of the 2009 budget was being finalized, which would have to be more restrictive than this year’s.

The minister said that during the IMF visit, talks would continue on a new arrangement with the institution.

Dragutinović said that the program with the IMF would mean minimal spending for the tax payer and maximum benefit, as it would make fiscal policy sustainable and would set limits to increase responsibility when it came to expenditure, salary negotiations and productivity.

She added that the program would enhance the country’s credibility by showing that risk in Serbia was less than in other countries, which would increase access to cheaper loans, particularly from financial institutions, for infrastructure, and for completing restructuring and privatizations.