Botaş, Çaykur, PTT not on privatization agenda

ANKARA - Anatolia News Agency

Privatization Board Chairman Ahmet Aksu revised earlier statements he had made July 13 by saying that there are no current plans to privatize state entities. AA photo

Turkey’s Privatization Board (ÖİB) has denied earlier suggestions that it was preparing to sell off state interests such as the main tea producer, the postal service and the pipeline corporation, saying there are no current plans to make such privatizations.

“At this point, the privatization of the General Directorate of Tea Enterprises (ÇAYKUR) is not on our agenda, and we have not taken any decision on the privatization of other organizations like the Petroleum Pipeline Corporation (BOTAŞ) and PTT,” Ahmet Aksu, the ÖİB’s acting chairman, said yesterday.
Aksu had previously put the three state-run entities on the government’s privatization agenda, but the ÖİB took a subsequent step back following an announcement from ÇAYKUR this week that the tea enterprise had no plans to pursue a privatization. Finance Minister Mehmet Şimşek also said there were no plans to privatize BOTAŞ and Çaykur.

Aksu, meanwhile, said they planned to issue a tender notice for the Galataport project by the end of 2012. The Galataport Project includes the construction and 49-year operation of hotels, shopping malls, cinemas and entertainment centers in the quarter of Karaköy-Salıpazarı. Speaking to Anatolia news agency, Aksu said Galataport would become an important area in both Turkey and Europe in terms of drawing visitors.

 “There is [also] a great interest in the privatization of Turkish highways from various countries in Europe and the Far East. We will receive the final bids on the highways on Oct. 31. We plan to complete the tender process for Turkish highways in 2012,” Aksu said.Aksu also said the proposed İzmir Cruise Ships Port was at the tender stage.