Serbia's Ministry of Finance published remarks from Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Siniša Mali during the International Monetary Fund and World Bank Spring Meetings in Washington, including meetings with Fitch Ratings and other credit rating agencies. The update highlights Serbia’s energy-crisis response and broader macroeconomic messaging, which Mali linked to maintaining macroeconomic stability and an investment-grade credit rating. Mali said discussions focused on Serbia’s readiness for energy-market disruptions, citing fuel and gas reserves, the release of 40,000 tonnes of diesel from state reserves, and a 25% cut in excise duties on fuel intended to stabilise the fuel market and limit inflation. He put the fiscal cost of the excise cut at around RSD 5 billion per month (about EUR 42 million) and said it is not sustainable beyond five to six months. The remarks also note his request to IMF officials to wait for first-quarter results before finalising growth projections, while Serbia maintains a 3.0% growth target for the year despite IMF figures of 2.6% to 2.8% cited in the statement, and reference plans to fund a robotics strategy and artificial intelligence priorities, including two new data centres and an additional supercomputer. Separately, Mali said the US Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy Sarah Rogers is expected to visit Belgrade in May to sign an agreement on US participation in Expo 2027, for which he stated 137 countries have confirmed participation.
Ministry of Finance (Serbia)2026-04-17
Serbia's Ministry of Finance sets out energy-crisis measures to rating agencies including a 25% fuel excise cut costing RSD 5bn a month
Serbia’s Ministry of Finance released remarks by Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Siniša Mali from the IMF and World Bank Spring Meetings, emphasising the country’s energy-crisis response, macroeconomic stability and efforts to preserve its credit rating. Mali highlighted fuel and gas reserves, the release of 40,000 tonnes of diesel and a 25% excise cut on fuel costing about RSD 5 billion (EUR 42 million) per month, alongside maintaining a 3.0% growth target versus IMF projections of 2.6%–2.8% and plans to fund robotics and artificial intelligence infrastructure. He also noted an expected visit by the United States Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy in May to sign an agreement on US participation in Expo 2027.