Privatization of PKB prior to mid-2008

- The largest agricultural combine in the country, PKB "Beograd", will be privatized on public tender prior to mid-2008 - Slobodan Milosavljević, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Waterpower Engineering, announced yesterday (October 16, 2007), during the extension of the Seventh Economy Summit of Serbia.

Milosavljević pointed out that he expected participation of big "players" in the tender, as well as high price, while the conditions would be keeping of production, new investments and increase in number of employees, because potentials of "PKB" and market require larger number of workers.

As far as price of PKB is concerned, Milosavljević explained that investments were also important and he said that he hoped that some of the companies connected to the leaders in the world of agribusiness would bid on the tender.

- For all those who say that the parcels are small, privatization of "PKB" is the real opportunity, because 22,000 ha of land in the vicinity of Belgrade will be offered for sale - Milosavljević explained.

Minister has announced that the laws on food safety and seeds will be adopted in the following 3 to 6 months. In that way, already in the first quarter of year 2008, barriers for export of food to EU will be removed.