Gov't to discuss new four year privatization plan

The plan envisages that by the end of the year, the State Treasury will have finalized the privatization of the Ruch newsagents chain, sold its shares in bank BGŻ and embark on the initial phase of privatizing the Warsaw Stock Exchange. Within the next two to three years, the government will sell the shipyards in Gdynia and Szczecin to a strategic investor. The  Treasury wants to sell shares in 164 entities in 2009, 145 in 2010 and 106 in 2011. About 25 companies will be excluded from the privatization list, including Polish Radio and TV, oil and energy companies PGNiG, PKN Orlen, Lotos, Gaz-System, PERN, KGHM, and arms manufacturer Bumar. The plan will be discussed by the Cabinet on Thursday (Rzeczpospolita, p. B1; Parkiet, p. 14) A.K.