Turkey is pushing ahead with privatisation of its overstaffed, money-losing state enterprises in the run up to EU membership. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government is moving ahead with the most ambitious reform since the establishment of the republic 82 years ago: the privatisation of Turkey. In a sweeping programme, the administration intends to complete Turkey's drive to sell the nation's state economic enterprises, or KITs as they are known locally, before general elections in 2007. Initiated 19 years ago by late prime minister and president Turgut Ozal, the country's privatisation programme has continued in stops and starts since then due to weak governments, lack of legislation and regulations governing sales, and strong opposition from rival political parties, labour unions and the entrenched state bureaucracy.
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