Privatization process continues

TIRANA, June 5 -The government has decided to privatize small and medium size companies still owned by the Albanian state. The Albanian government can neither finance nor manage these enterprises. Urim Muja, the director of the National Agency of Privatization, declared that the Ministry of Economy is evaluating the assets of the small and medium size companies and preparing these for sale. The Ministry of Economy is planning to sell a number of closed mines, also. According to Muja, the privatization of these companies is not considered strategic. They are going to be offered for sale in the coming months. The former owners, who lost their property in 1945 or whose property was taken over by illegal home builders in the early 1990’s, will have the right of first refusal. The National Agency of Privatization is currently organizing the sale of nine percent of shares in Albtelekom. These shares are also going to be offered, first, to the former owners. (Tirana Times Staff)