3.047 firms went private in Serbia - Total profit of EUR 3, 7 billion

The minister of trade, Zeljko Sertic, said that in Serbia, by 2015, 3.047 went private and that profit of EUR 3,7 billon was generated.

At the Kopaonik business forum, Sertic said that all companies which could have been, were privatized and that on the average per company, profit totaled EUR 1, 2 , since here was one big privatization conducted by Telenor.

- More than 500 companies which are serious problems remained – Sertic said and reminded that 188 firms will go bankrupt and that in 76 of them there are no employees.

The minister said that in privatization process of these companies, former situation when they were successful and had big number of headcount cannot be taken as a starting point.

As he said, these companies are now in catastrophic situation since they do not have market and that 95% of them is technologically aged so that none of them almost has no positive and stable growth.

Who wants to go to Zelezara?

Sertic said that exact number of companies interested in managing Zelezara in Smederevo, will be familiar on Saturday and that larger number of companies is interested.

When asked whether it is true that American Esmark is interested in managing Smederevo-based steel plant, as RTS reported, Sertic said that it will be possible if Esmark pays a part which is comprised within the competition and signs contract on secrecy and that on Saturday, exact number of interested companies will be known.