Head of the Turkish privatization administration board (OIB), Ugur Bayar, has taken over the tender committee overseeing the privatization of Turk Telekom (TT), Turkey's fixed-line monopoly, according to a statement from the OIB last Thursday. The 35-year-old former banker has been involved in Turkey's privatization efforts since 1992
"By law the stays in office for a period of one year and is chaired by a representative of the OIB," the statement said. It went on to say that Bayar took up the post after the term of office of the former head, Hakki Surel, had expired its one-year extension.
Four members sit in the TT tender committee, besides the chairperson — the TT general manager, Ibrahim Hakki Alpturk; the treasury deputy director for state economic enterprises, Esref Ayaz; the capital market board's Cemal Kucuksozen; and Hasan Tekeli from the transport ministry.
September 15 was the deadline for the submission of bids for a 20 percent stake in TT, which the government wants to sell to a strategic partner led by a foreign telecom company. When details of the tender were disclosed, about a month ago, relations between the committee members grew tense. TT general director Ibrahim Hakki Alpturk criticized Surel at the time for the untimely revelation.
Turk Telekom is a key element of the government's ambitious $7.6 billion privatization program for this year, which will be delayed until 2001. Presently the government is considering increasing the size of the stake on sale to attract foreign investors. — (Albawaba-MEBG)
© 2000 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
