First task is to change how Ministry of Economy works

BELGRADE - Serbia's new Minister of Economy Zeljko Sertic has said that his first task in the next 30 days is to change how the ministry works so it would be more active and efficient.

He told Radio and Television of Serbia on Thursday his advantage was that he came from the Serbian Chamber of Commerce and was well aware of the problems plaguing the country's economy and existing companies.

According to Sertic, the ministry will follow three directions in the future, starting with support for existing companies that are meant to carry the country's economic development, followed by creation of new companies, both domestic and foreign, and finally settlingthe matter of companies undergoing restructuring, explaining that that work should finally be completed.

The government should create a financial consolidation plan by Monday, which will involve a broad spectrum of measures focused on both revenue and expenditure, he noted.

"We must not allow the reduction of salaries and pensions to undermine purchasing power and we have to pay a lot more attention to revenue, make sure that everyone is paying taxes," he pointed out.

The government has to listen to the business community to avoid mistakes that have happened in the past, he stresses. It is important for government companies to hire professional managers so they would become successful and cut down on irrational expenses, Sertic says.

Photo Tanjug - Sava Radovanovic (archive)