Tender for "Progres" in mid-November?

As "Blic Novac" learned from the sources close to the Ministry of Economy, Belgrade-based company "Progres" may soon get the new owner. According to the plan, the tender for sale of state-owned package of 45.9% of stocks in this once powerful state company may be announced already in mid-November.

However, the announcement of the tender depends exclusively on whether there will be interested buyers. People in the Ministry of Economy want to avoid the situation from October 2008 when not even one obligatory bid was submitted although four companies bought the documentation.

This time, the condition for announcement of the tender will be the promise that at least two interested investors will submit valid bids.

The Privatization Agency has also confirmed to "Blic Novac" that the tender for "Progres" is being prepared.

"Progres" owns 8,999 square meters of properties in Belgrade, 7,600 square meters of which are offices in Zmaj Jovina Street in Belgrade, as well 20,196 square meters of land in Krnjača.

That company also has possessions in former Yugoslav republics - 2,705 square meters in Zagreb, a villa at 427 square meters in Mali Lošinj in Croatia, and 44 square meters in Skopje.