Serbia invites bids for 502 state owned companies

Serbia issued a public bid on Friday, inviting potential buyers to send their letters of intent by September 15 for the privatisation of hundreds of state-owned companies.
According to the website of the Serbian Privatization Agency some 502 companies including "Galenika" pharmaceutical company, furniture factory "Simpo", "Belgrade Fair", truck manufacturer "FAP" and bus operator "Lasta" are on sale directed by the rules set by the new privatization law adopted on August 2.

Other companies included in the call are aircraft maintenance company "JAT Tehnika", agricultural companies "PKB" and "PIK Zemun", road construction company "Beograd" as well as hotels such as Slavija in the centre of Belgrade and JAT Suites at Mt Kopaonik.
Serbia also seeks buyers for its prominent news outlets such as Politika daily newspapers, Belgrade city TV station "Studio B" and a number of local radio and television stations.
According to the new law on privatization Serbia obliges to transfer state owned property into private by December 2015.
After potential investors express their interest, the agency will develop within 45 days models and methods of privatization for each of the 502 companies and submit them to the Ministry of Economy.
The complete call for buyers is available at the website of the Serbian Privatization Agency.