The newly appointed head of the Serbian government’s economic team, Đuro Macut, outlined the government’s key priorities for the future, emphasizing macroeconomic stability and creating conditions for sustainable economic growth. Speaking in the Serbian Parliament, Macut confirmed that maintaining a stable financial system remains a cornerstone of their economic strategy. He highlighted that Serbia currently enjoys an investment-grade credit rating, robust foreign exchange reserves, significant public sector deposits, and a relatively low public debt compared to the European average.
He also assured that public debt is on a declining trajectory, forecasting it will reach 46% of GDP by the end of the medium-term period. Macut reaffirmed that fiscal discipline will continue to be a central component of Serbia’s economic policy, with a targeted fiscal deficit of 3% of GDP, which will ensure funding for essential investments under the “Leap to the Future Serbia 2027” program and further bolster national security capacities.
A major change to Serbia’s fiscal rules regarding deficit limits will be postponed until 2029, giving the government time to fully implement its current investment cycle. Macut projected that economic growth will accelerate in the coming years, with Serbia expected to achieve a cumulative growth of 13.7% from 2025 to 2027, representing an annual growth rate of 4.4%. This growth will be driven primarily by domestic demand, with continued improvements in employment, wages, and living standards. He also noted that investments in infrastructure, energy, and communal systems will play a key role in fueling the growth of investment, while public consumption will remain carefully controlled.
Macut emphasized that the “Leap into the Future Serbia 2027” program will be the central development framework over the coming years, with a total investment of 17.8 billion euros. He also underscored the importance of successfully hosting the specialized exhibition “EXPO 2027” as part of the government’s long-term strategic goals.
