It is incorrect that the Government of the Republic of Croatia plans to privatize 28 large companies, including the Croatian Lottery, Croatian Post, four seaports, the river port of Vukovar, as well as other mentioned companies, said today from Banski Dvori regarding yesterday’s article published in the weekly Globus.
The Croatian Lottery is a strategic trading company for which privatization is not anticipated, unless prescribed by law, while Croatian Post and Narodne Novine are defined as companies of developmental significance, the Government stated.
They note that in the Strategy for the Management and Disposal of Property Owned by the Republic of Croatia for the period from 2013 to 2017, passed in the Croatian Parliament on June 14, 2013, guidelines for managing trading companies owned by the Republic of Croatia were indicated, and companies in which the state has shares were categorized for the first time, but a company classified in a certain category does not necessarily mean that it will be privatized, especially not within two months as stated by Globus.
– As is known to the public, the privatization of Croatian Postal Bank and Croatia Insurance is underway, and the sale of 75 percent of shares in HŽ Cargo is nearing completion. Partial privatization of Croatia Airlines is also planned, as well as the recapitalization of Petrokemija, and medium-term considerations are being made regarding the recapitalization of ACI and Jadroplov.
When it comes to seaports, river ports, and airports, a tender for concessionaires who would build terminals (passenger, container) is expected, not a sale as stated by Globus. For example, the Port of Rijeka is going to tender for the concession for the construction of a container terminal on the Zagreb Coast, as Brajdica is already managed on the principle of public-private partnership.
Precisely:
– ZL Osijek – by the end of the year, a marketing study will be prepared, which is the basis for announcing a tender for the concession of Osijek Airport
– ZL Rijeka – a tender for the concession of Rijeka Airport is being prepared
– Luka Gaženica – a tender for a passenger terminal will be announced (by the end of June next year)
– Luka Dubrovnik – a tender for a passenger terminal will be announced
– Luka Rijeka – a tender for the construction of the Zagreb Coast terminal in the Port of Rijeka will be announced
When it comes to trading companies in which the state has less than 25% shares or stocks (which do not have greater developmental significance), restructuring, going public, and sale, donation, and/or the formation of a venture capital fund is anticipated in the Strategy within two years. For companies owned by the Republic of Croatia with more than 25% but less than 50%, the same goals and procedures are anticipated within three years, as well as the formation of a stock fund. – conclude from the Government.
