MOSCOW, March 20 (Itar-Tass) —— Russia’s presidential aide Arkady Dvorkovich forecasts for the current year privatisation of several major companies, including Sberbank.
“I cannot comment on certain deals, as it is sensitive market information,” he told reporters during a briefing devoted to a meeting of the presidential Commission on modernisation and technology development of the economy, due on March 21 in the city of Pokrov. “Our companies on the plan, core ministries and consultants are watching closely the situation, and should market conditions be favourable the deals will be made.”
He said that several major deals are possible during the current year already.
Dvorkovich said that the plan involves mostly the companies, which were due to be privatised over the previous year, but due to unfavourable market conditions their privatisation had been postponed.
“These companies are watching the situation,” he said.
“Besides,” he continued, “we have announced collecting requests for purchase of a packet of the United Grain Company.”
Speaking about privatisation of Sberbank, the presidential aide expressed the view that “the situation is approaching the position, where selling will be timely.”
During the briefing, Dvorkovich analysed the situation in international markets.
“In short-term, the situation in Greece has stabilised,” he said. “Now the developed countries need to form a growth platform on the basis of innovations,” he said.
As for the situation in Russia, “short-term risks remain always, but we do realise how to prevent consequences of what may be happening in other countries.”
“We expect our counterparts to follow suit,” he concluded.