TEHRAN, Iran, Jan.4
Trend:
The Iranian government's plan to assign shares of its public companies to private sector is aimed for shrinking the government, said the Minister of Economic Affairs and Finance.
"The assignment of public companies' shares aims to raise financial resources,"said Farhad Dejpasand, Trend reports referring to ILNA.
"The government will not assign shares of those public companies that had losses, so these companies are basically not on the assignment list. They will be included in the list after they are recovered through management and construction reforms," Dejpasand added.
According to the official, that the assignments will not be limited to public companies, as the government's non-stock companies and assets are to be assigned as well.
Earlier, Dejpasand noted lack of private sector's interest in buying government share in public companies, while some say it is due to companies' losses.
The government is to privatize its share in six oil refining companies, three banks, two insurance and an investment companies, a holding, two steel companies, two automakers, and an agriculture company.
The public companies include Lavan, Shiraz, Isfahan, Bandar Abbas, Tehran and Tabriz oil refining companies; Tejarat, Mellat and Saderat banks; Alborz insurance company and Amin Reinsurance Company; Persian Gulf Holding; National Iranian Copper Industry Co.; Mobarakeh Steel Company; SAIPA and Iran Khodro automakers; Pars Agro Industry Co and National Iranian Investment.