The Tunisian government has so far privatized 162 companies, either parastatal of state-owned, in line with a program launched back in 1987, an official statement disclosed last week.
Following a "policy of state withdrawal from competitive sectors" aimed towards a free market economy, Tunisia’s privatization scheme has put 2.2 billion Tunisian dinars ($1.6 billion) into the state coffers over the past 15 years, the statement said, cited by AFP. The program included the transfer of assets, the selling of shares, public tenders and concessions.
Tourism is the sector most affected by privatizations, followed by the chemical, electrical and mechanical industries. The agriculture and food processing industry are in third place. The government statement reported progress until mid-2002. — (menareport.com)
© 2002 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
