FM Radunović meets with WB representatives: Government attains impressive results in short period of time

Podgorica, Montenegro (5 November 2017) -- Finance Minister Darko Radunović met earlier today with the World Bank's team, headed by Head of the Office for Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina Emanuel Salinas, for talks on the results of the first year of work of the 41st Government and plans for the next period.

Presenting the basic macro-fiscal and economic indicators of Montenegro's growth and development in 2017, Minister Radunović said that the efforts of the Ministry of Finance have been focused on the implementation of fiscal consolidation with a view to preserving stability and sustainability of the overall financial system, adding that progress have been achieved in all segments. Namely, as Minister Radunović explained, the Fiscal Strategy brought a significant increase in revenues, a reduction in the deficit and it stimulated accelerated economic growth, and, more importantly, it paved the way to be followed in the upcoming period.

Mr Salinas praised the World Bank's cooperation with the Ministry of Finance, pointing out that the results achieved by the Government in the short term were impressive, and that the foundations for the implementation of systemic, reform processes were laid. He added that the World Bank stands at the disposal of the Government to support its efforts towards attaining the set goal.

Speaking about the importance of the World Bank's support for the budget of Montenegro, which is supposed to be approved in the form of a guarantee on 20 December 2017, Minister Radunović stressed that it represents a reflection of the quality relations the Montenegrin institutions have established with the World Bank's team, pointing out that technical and financial support is especially valuable for Montenegro.

The meeting agreed to intensify the activities on joint projects and operations in order to fully respect all the deadlines.