By Vangelis Mandravelis

The state privatizations fund (TAIPED) will have to start one sell-off project per week from the start of the new year, as the new agreement signed by the government and its creditors provides for 10 privatization projects to begin within the first quarter of 2013, a particularly demanding target for the fund and the government alike.

If one adds the privatization of the Astir Palace Hotel in Vouliagmeni, handled by the National Bank of Greece, to those projects, the total number comes to 11 for the next three months. However, the assets for utilization also include 40 real estate properties that can in no way be deemed as a single sell-off project.

The plan is for the the procedures to start for the selling of the following companies: Organization of Hellenic Horse Racing (ODIE), Hellenic Post (ELTA), Hellenic Vehicle Industry (ELVO), Thessaloniki Water Company (EYATH), Larco mining and metallurgical company, and Hellenic Defense Systems (EAS). The government will also have to implement the concession of Egnatia Odos, small ports and marinas, and regional airports in the first quarter of 2013.