- Poland: Emil Wasacz, Polish minister responsible or privatisation, announced that the year 2000 would be that of all records for this type of operation. Following revenue of 7 bn zlotys in 1998, the Polish State pocketed 13.3 bn zlotys in 1999 (or some $3.3 bn) and expects a record of $5 bn this year. Over half this amount, or $3 bn, should come from the privatisation of the national telecommunications operator TP SA, of which 25 to 35% of the shares should move into the hands of strategic investors. Only FRANCE TELECOM and TELECOM ITALIA have so far applied, the date for handing in bids having been put back to 25 February. In the field of energy, the second largest issue to be dealt with, Warsaw hopes to sell a dozen or so of its power plants, out of a total of 30 to be privatised by 2002 and whose total value is estimated at $30 bn. Among the other sectors concerned are those of steel with, notably the steelworks of Katowicw which alone produce over half Poland's steel, that of the weapons industry, which should bring in at least $250 million, the banking sector, with the sale of PKO B, which controls close to 30% of the market. In addition, the government intends pursuing the privatisation of PKN (oil), ORBIS (hotel business) and PZU (insurance).