Mali: Blockades undeniably a cause of Serbia's economic slowdown

BELGRADE - Serbian First Deputy PM and Finance Minister Sinisa Mali said on Thursday blockades were undeniably a cause of Serbia's economic slowdown.

Speaking to reporters after the unveiling of an EXPO 2027 scale model, Mali said the current growth rate was 3.5 pct - still above the European average, but lower than planned.

"Of course, it then also affects the growth projections for pensions, salaries, the minimum wage and everything else. But that is exactly the policy of those who are organising these blockades," Mali noted.

The blockaders have not done anything that would help Serbia and violence is their only policy and their attitude towards anything that is important for Serbia, "from the Kosovo-Metohija issue and Republika Srpska to everything else that is extremely significant for the identity, sovereignty and independence of our country," he said.

The blockades are also impacting FDI inflow, even though new factories are still being opened in Serbia, Mali said.