Vucic: Serbian GDP to total 62-63 bln euros at year-end

BELGRADE - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Thursday evening Serbia's GDP would total around 62-63 bln euros at the end of the year and noted that he was almost certain the national economy would not plunge into recession.

"Do not forget that, in 2012, the total value of everything we produced in Serbia was 32 bln euros, and this year it will be 62 bln euros... The citizens need to be proud of their country," Vucic said in an appearance on the RTS.

He said that, even though all countries were getting into recession, he was almost certain it would not be the case with Serbia.

"There just might be individual quarters that will be at that level," he said, adding that the unemployment rate in Serbia was lower than ever and that the economy was lacking workers in some sectors.

He also said that the 2022 FDI inflow was at 4.095 bln euros and that Serbia would end this year with a 2.8-2.9 pct deficit.

He said greenfield and brownfield investments in the country were at a record high and that, unlike in the 2000s, Serbia was not selling or shutting down factories.

"Those are fantastic results," he said, noting that, thanks to Asian investors, Serbia had succeeded in offsetting a decline in European investments.

We are lacking South Korean investments but there is an inflow of Chinese and Japanese investments, which I am especially proud of, he said.