PRISTINA (Kosovo), June 12 (SeeNews) – Kosovo's government is seeking a consultant to review the structure, operations and practices of state-owned Kosovo Telecom ahead of its privatisation, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), which is helping the government in Pristina with this process, said on Wednesday.
The consultant should conduct an analysis of Kosovo Telecom’s current situation, prepare a study that identifies and evaluates options for achieving sustainable financial viability and prepare a detailed feasibility study and financing plan for the chosen option for a new operating model and service offerings, the EBRD said in a procurement notice.
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“As part of the privatisation process, the government has identified a need for a review of the structure, operations and practices of Kosovo Telecom ahead of privatisation, along with recommendations for its restructuring while still under state ownership, with the objective of achieving sustainable financial viability by improve the financial, operational, technological, and human resource standing of the company,” the bank noted.
The assignment is envisaged to total 350,000 euro ($396,185), exclusive of VAT, and will be financed by the EBRD Shareholder Special Fund.
In 2018, Kosovo won an arbitration case against German investment company ACP Axos Capital seeking compensation over the suspension of the sale of the telco.
In 2013, the government in Pristina approved the sale of 75% of Kosovo Telecom to a consortium of Germany's ACP Axos Capital and U.S.-based Najafi Companies for 277 million euro but in 2014 it canceled the deal after parliament failed to adopt the company's sell-off report within the set deadline.
Five telecoms operate in Kosovo, as Kosovo Telecom held a 51.2% share in terms of subscribers in the second quarter of 2018, according to latest available data from the country's regulatory authority of electronic and postal communications.
($ = 0.8833 euro)