Mali, EBRD's Schlup discuss EPS, railways

BELGRADE - Serbian Finance Minister Sinisa Mali and EBRD Director Rosmarie Schlup held an online meeting on Monday to discuss a joint investment into a Belgrade-Nis-Presevo railway line section and a project aimed at providing financial assistance to Serbia's national electric power company EPS.

In a statement, the Finance Ministry said an agreement on the railway project, to be signed in February, would be worth 550 mln euros.

Mali noted that joint financial support to the EPS was especially important as a restructuring of the energy sector was a government priority and also a part of a new arrangement with the IMF.

Mali and Schlup also discussed the status and implementation of other ongoing joint projects by Serbia and the EBRD.

Mali said his ministry maintained good cooperation with the EBRD and that all activities were being conducted in a timely manner, and added that both sides were making efforts to ensure all projects were implemented in an adequate manner.

He also said the Serbian government continued to make major capital investments and that 6.8 pct of GDP had been set aside for the purpose.

He said Serbia had achieved excellent macroeconomic results last year despite the crisis, and Schlup congratulated him on the results, the statement said.

Mali said 2022 FDI inflow to Serbia amounted to a record-high 4.4 bln euros.