Treasury Ministry to accelerate privatization of more than 550 firms by 2002

The Treasury Ministry has published a timetable for the direct privatization of 321 state-owned companies this year, and of 231 in 2002 by voivodships. If succesful, this project would double the number of sales for 2001 from that of last year. Analysts are somewhat skeptical about that, pointing out that many of these companies are in bad financial condition and not likely to find a buyer. However, the ministry believes in the effectiveness of various programs aimed at encouraging and helping in creation of privatization plans. According to its estimates, some 180 voivodship proposals will be needed yearly to complete privatization before joining the EU. (Puls Biznesu, p. 4) M.K.