134 Belarus’ companies set to go private in 2011-2013

MINSK, 15 February (BelTA) – Some 134 companies have been included in the draft privatization plan for 2011-2013, Natalia Zhernosek, Director of the State Property Fund of the State Property Committee of Belarus, told reporters on 15 February, BelTA has learnt. The companies earmarked for privatization include Belorusneft, all the farm machine building plants, including Minsk Tractor Works, Gomselmash, and the Belarusian Steel Works, Planar. These companies are set to go private in 2013. Natalia Zhernosek informed that the privatization plan had already been drafted, it should be approved by the government as agreed upon with the president. The new privatization plan is different from that of 2008-2009 which focused on the corporization of enterprises. According to the new plan, “the first two years, we will attach more attention to the stock sale of incorporated enterprises,” the director of the fund said. The shares of some 180 incorporated enterprises will be put on sale in 2011, 48 enterprises in 2012 and 20 companies in 2013. The major work on corporization will be carried out in the year 2013, Natalia Zhernosek said. Only a small number of enterprises is slated for privatization in 2011-2012.

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