TAIPED says 2015 sell-off revenues will miss target

The privatization program is continuing and has not paused for the pre-election period, but the delays observed to date will burden the state’s revenues for another year, the head of the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund (TAIPED), Stergios Pitsiorlas, told Reuters on Wednesday.

According to Pitsiorlas, although the privatization of the 14 regional airports will be agreed by year-end, it is not expected to fetch any revenues until next year. Consequently, the target set for takings of 1.4 billion euros within 2015 will not be achieved. Given that the share of the airports deal amounts to over 80 percent of the annual target, the revenues from the privatizations program will be very low for yet another year.

However, Pitsiorlas appeared quite optimistic about next year’s revenues. He said that the 3.7-billion-euro target is achievable, based his optimism regarding the completion of the privatization of the Astir Palace Resort at Vouliagmeni and even the natural gas transmission network operator (DESFA).

He added that the process for the development of the plot at Elliniko, southern Athens, will resume after the election.