EBRD may participate in Serbian privatizations
Belgrade’s Nicola Tesla airport may also be privatized.
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) may participate in the privatization of Telekom Serbija, the Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport and the Dunav Osiguranje insurance company, reported newswire Tanjug May 23.
“The EBRD’s involvement will depend on the Serbian government’s decision concerning the future of these public companies,” said EBRD Director for Serbia Matteo Patrone, as cited by Tanjug. “Telekom needs money for capital investments, and we are ready to consider a capital increase or loans.”
When asked about the recently-announced privatization of the Serbian electric power company EPS, Patrone stated that participation in this privatization is a long-term objective, adding that Telekom Srbija, Belgrade’s Nikola Tesla Airport and the Dunav Osiguranje insurance company may be privatized within a much shorter time.
“The EPS, the Serbian power grid company EMS, Srbijagas, the Serbian Railways and other public and utility companies are a different group of companies and require deep restructuring before strategic investors are sought for them,” stated Patrone, as cited by the newswire.
Patrone also stressed that EBRD’s role is to continuously support those companies by securing capital and providing additional loans if and when required.
Photo courtesy of Belgade Aviation Museum Photo Archive
