Estonia, Investments, Legislation, Markets and Companies

"There is no plan of listing state-owned companies at the bourse," Ligi said. He said that it is clearly political and very sensitive political decision.

Eesti Päevaleht wrote on Thursday that Finance Minister Jürgen Ligi sent a letter on Tuesday to Economy Minister Juhan Parts, saying that there are no objections to the possible listing of shareholdings of state-owned companies at the stock exchange. The Economy and Communications Ministry informed Eesti Päevaleht then that now a detailed analysis of state-owned companies will be started. The companies that will be analysed will include certainly Eesti Energia, Tallinna Sadam and Eesti Post.

Ligi said that the exchange of letters took place since the coalition agreement prescribes analysing the needs of the state to have holdings in different companies. "The list has to be reviewed from time to time. It is not always certain that the state's stake is necessary. Hence the exchange of letters," said Ligi.

Ligi said that there are arguments in favour of privatisation too. "We have reached a situation that the state cannot conduct these financial transactions forever," said Ligi, pointing out the need of Estonian Air and Eesti Energia for finances.