Mali: Supplementary budget positive, development-minded

BELGRADE - Serbian Finance Minister Sinisa Mali said on Monday the country's supplementary budget for 2023 was positive and development-minded and noted that there was a 60.6 bln dinar surplus in the state coffers that would be used to help those in need of financial assistance.

Addressing the parliamentary committee on finances, budget and control of public spending, Mali said most of the funds available would go to wage and pension increases.

He added that pensions would rise by 6.3 pct in real terms.

Mali said a part of the funds would also be disbursed as financial assistance to mothers of children up to 16 years of age.

He said capital investments were the next item on the list and noted that no such investments had been halted.

He said Serbian GDP had been up by 0.9 pct in the first quarter of this year and by 1.7 pct in the second quarter.

"Through the supplementary budget, we will set aside an additional 35 bln dinars for agriculture, making the share of the agriculture budget in the total budget 7 pct," Mali said.

(1 euro = 117.2 dinars)