Privatization an Impetus for Investors' Participation
Speaking at a seminar on railroad technology, which included several foreign countries and international organizations, he said the government has outlined measures to ensure smooth implementation of the privatization drive within the scope of five-year development plans.
The government is hopeful that by the end of the fourth five-year development plan (March 2005-2010) all the sectors eligible for ceding to the public will have been carried out.
The government itself will only assume the role of supervision and guidance in the economic affairs, Khorram underlined.
He said the ministry is also mandated to upgrade technology in the urban transportation fleet, reform customs regulations and facilitate foreign transit.
Secretary General of Iran Privatization Organization (IPO) said here Saturday that the participation of foreign bidders in domestic tenders is unnecessary.
Domestic capabilities should be utilized in carrying out the privatization plan, Ahmad Mir-Motahari said.
Speaking to IRNA, he added information on firms eligible to be handed over to the public would be transferred following a series of advertisements in the press. "Pricing of the service-related companies will be different from those of other types of operations."
Mir-Motahari said the monetary value of state-owned companies ceded to the private sector stands at rials 14,000 billion in the current Iranian year (started March 21).
He said by the end of the Third Five-Year Development Plan (March 2000-2005) over 16 firms affiliated to the ministries of oil, and post, telegraph and telephone (PTT) will be ceded to the private sector. On the manner of transfer of the ownership to the public, he added some companies which are 'suitable' will be registered in the Tehran Stock Exchange (TSE) and 'if they do not meet the criteria then they will be ceded through public tenders.'