Turkeys Privatization Administration (ÖİB) deputy head Osman Demirci has said that World Bank figures indicate that Turkey has, over the past four years, become a global champion in privatization. Türk Telekom’s sale was one of Turkey’s most succesful privatizations.

Demirci noted that in the 20 years prior to 2003, Turkey carried out $8 billion in privatization, but that in the past four years alone, this figures had risen to $18 billion.

Large privatization projects in the energy and transportation sectors in Turkey, along with the construction of new freeways and highways, will be on the upcoming agenda, Demirci told Anatolia.

Demirci spoke about the upcoming increases expected in privatization efforts in the transportation and energy sectors. He noted that while such privatization efforts will allow Turkey to attain a more dynamic infrastructure, he also noted that there are three large problems that need to be solved in the energy sector, and that the most important of these was guarantee of supply.

There has already been interest from foreign companies in Turkish privatization efforts, said Demirci, noting that bids are to be accepted for petrochemical firm Petkim on June 15, and that large Turkish companies like Akfen and Calik are working with foreign companies to become even larger.

Demirci also spoke about meetings with the Hong Kong-based Hutchison Holding, which won the bid for the privatization of the İzmir Port.