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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

RSD 80 million for development of companies in Serbian communities in Kosovo

Belgrade, 13 March 2008

Serbian Minister of Trade and Services Predrag Bubalo stated today that the Serbian government approved RSD 80 million to encourage and develop companies and entrepreneurship in Kosovo-Metohija, in communities populated by Serbian and other non-Albanians.

Predrag Bubalo at today's press conference

Bubalo said at a press conference held after the government session that loans will be approved ranging from RSD 500,000 to 2.5 million for entrepreneurs, and 1.2 million for craftsmen’s shops.

The Minister specified that these funds are intended for the so-called "start up loans", which the entrepreneurs will get through the Development Fund for 2008.

The government also examined the crisis in the health sector which took place after Kosovo customs officials confiscated a cargo of medicines from Serbia.

Bubalo said that Minister for Kosovo-Metohija Slobodan Samardzic will visit the province on Sunday and Monday and meet with UNMIK Chief Joachim Ruecker, in order to find a solution to this and many other problems.

The government passed a Decree today on the special import of nearly 200,000 tonnes of wheat in order to control rising prices of flour and bread on the Serbian market, said Bubalo.

He explained that one half of the wheat to be imported is intended for goods reserves, so that negative affects of a possible bad harvest of wheat during the current and next year could be avoided.

The Minister said that the price of wheat on the Serbian market reached a record high, and it will not be easy to buy wheat in surrounding countries or on other markets, considering the fact that wheat prices are relatively high there as well.

According to Bubalo, following the announcement that a special import of wheat will be arranged producers and traders in Serbia have already reacted and the price of wheat is stabelising.

At the same time, Bubalo said that according to the Decree passed by Serbian President Boris Tadic on dissolving the parliament, the Serbian government will work only in a technical capacity.

This means that the government will not be able to propose laws and regulations and its work will be restricted to dealing with current administrative matters, said the Minister and added that according to the Law on the government it may pass only decrees which are related to questions of general national interest, defence and emergency situations.