BELGRADE, Oct. 14 (Xinhua) -- First 100 days of the new Serbian government were marked by investments, growth of trade and decrease in public debt, enabling the country to increase salaries and pensions and improve living standard, said Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic on Saturday in the city of Krusevac.
Presenting the results of the new government in the first three months at a ceremony in front of ministers and journalists, she pointed out that it performed well in implementing priorities such as the modernization, digitalization, investments in education and economic development, government released.
The new government was elected by the parliament on June 29, after former prime minister Aleksandar Vucic resigned in May in order to run for president.
According to Brnabic, direct foreign investments since then increased by 19.9 percent comparing to last year which resulted in new employment for 2,778 people in this period, thanks to seven signed contracts with foreign investors worth 78 million euros (92 million U.S. dollars).
At the same time, total trade balance increased by 13 percent as well as the export, she stressed.
Brnabic pointed out that the public debt of Serbia decreased by 1 billion euros, or by 7.6 percent comparing to last year, and that the public debt is now around 65.4 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP).
On the other hand, the state budget is currently in surplus -- 66.5 billion RSD, or Serbian dinar, (around 550 million euros), which will, according to her, have influence on the living standard of the people.
She announced that pensions in 2018 will be increased by 5 percent, while salaries in public institutions and the state administration will grow between 5 and 10 percent.
She said that one of the achievements of the government was to increase the minimum price of labor to 143 RSD (1.2 euros) per hour, which will bring benefits to more than 350,000 employees.
"Government is ready to solve inherited problems, even when they seem unsolvable, and it is able to secure better living standard for all citizens, in all parts of the country," she said.
Other achievements she mentioned were the establishment of the Belgrade-Prague-Beijing flight operated by Chinese Hainan Airlines, Brnabic recalled.
She said that the new government maintained continuity with the previous government led by current president Aleksandar Vucic, and concluded that the government will continue to maintain political stability along with making further steps towards the accession to the European Union.
