Mali: Serbia has succeeded in maintaining macroeconomic stability

BELGRADE - In spite of global crises, Serbia has succeeded in maintaining its macroeconomic stability, credibility and attractiveness to investors, Serbian First Deputy PM and Finance Minister Sinisa Mali said on Friday.

Addressing a Business Summit 2026 panel, Mali said that the whole world, including Serbia, was feeling the consequences of global crises, and noted that crises, conflicts, trade confrontations, inflation and wars had become normal.

"Serbia, too, is feeling all the consequences of global shifts and challenges, but I believe that, on the one hand, it is a challenge, and a great opportunity on the other hand. A small economy with a good leader can manage in case it makes decisions quickly and efficiently in response to crises," Mali said.

Since the year 2020, the coronavirus pandemic and the energy crisis in 2022, Serbia has been successful in reacting more quickly and more efficiently than many other countries, the minister said.

"That is what credibility is. In the global economy, countries that are successful are those where capital feels safety and predictability, and Serbia is just that kind of a country," Mali said.

Since 2018, Serbia has been among Europe's fastest-growing economies and it has maintained macroeconomic stability, Mali said, noting that Serbia's public debt accounted for around 43 pct of GDP - about half of the EU average.

He said Serbia had registered 3 pct GDP growth in Q1 2026, while the projected annual growth rate in the EU had been just 1.1 pct.

Mali also said Serbia had more than 28 bln euros in FX reserves and 54 tonnes of gold deposited in the central bank's vault.

"These buffers and the money we have in our account are what attracts investors and keeps them in Serbia in a time when the world is facing enormous uncertainty," the minister explained.

He said Serbia still accounted for more than 60 pct of all FDI in the Western Balkans and that it was the only EU candidate country with an investment-grade rating.

"We received the investment-grade credit rating three years ago and we are still retaining it, which says enough about the credibility of our economy," Mali noted.

He said Serbia continued to implement the Leap into the Future programme and preparations for EXPO 2027 and had a clearly defined road map until 2030 and 2035.

"We have not halted any investments. We have outlined the development plans to both the citizens and investors in a transparent manner. Our objective is clear - to maintain growth with full macroeconomic stability," Mali concluded.