16/05/2006
Moroccan government officials said Monday (15 May) that 25 companies had expressed an interest in buying state-owned tea and sugar company Somathes. The group includes seven Chinese firms, Indian company Tata Tea, and leading Moroccan companies such as chocolate maker Aiguebelle, sugar refiner Cosumar, Societe Groupe Bellakhdar, Etablissement Belfkih & Fils and the Holmarcom Group.
The Finance Ministry launched a tender last month to sell 100 per cent of Somathes, noting that the minimum acceptable bid price will be $51m. The sale is part of a large-scale privatisation plan launched by Morocco, which has already privatised 70 state-owned companies in various sectors for more than $8 billion. (Reuters)