Press Release No. 19/427

Statement by IMF Deputy Managing Director Tao Zhang at the Conclusion of His Visit to Serbia

November 21, 2019

Mr. Tao Zhang, Deputy Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), visited Serbia during November 20­-22.

During his visit, Mr. Zhang met with Prime Minister Ana Brnabić, Central Bank Governor JorgovankaTabaković, Finance Minister Siniša Mali, and Minister of Energy Aleksandar Antic. The discussions focused on Serbia’s recent economic developments and key policy challenges going forward. At the conclusion of his visit, Mr. Zhang made the following statement:

“It was a great pleasure to visit Serbia for the first time. It was extremely fruitful and informative, and I am grateful for the warm hospitality of the Serbian authorities. In addition to meeting the Prime Minister, finance and energy ministers, central bank governor, and other officials I had the opportunity to explore one of the biggest wind farms in the country. It manifests Serbia’s commitment to promote green energy and fight climate change.

“I am also happy to note that Serbia’s economic performance remains solid and labor market conditions continue to improve. Looking ahead, structural reforms are advancing, and prospects are bright. Nonetheless, the road towards higher living standards is not without challenges and further efforts are needed to boost Serbia’s growth potential.

“The IMF stands ready to maintain its successful collaboration with the Serbian authorities, and we look forward to helping them prepare and implement the next steps of their reform agenda.”