Russia's Economy Ministry recommended that the government sell 75 percent minus one share in telecoms holding Svyazinvest in a deal expected to bring the state at least $1 billion, officials said on Wednesday. News agency Interfax reported that the government could also sell its 51 percent stake in national flag carrier Aeroflot as part of next year's privatisation plan.
Officials are due to discuss the Economy Ministry's recommendations at a special meeting on Thursday.
Asked how much the Svyazinvest sale could bring, Yevgeni Ditrikh, a ministry department head, told reporters: "One billion (dollars) and more."
Igor Grechukhin, another department head, said his ministry had also recommended the government sell 17.81 percent in steel giant Magnitogorsk Iron and Steel Works as soon as the fourth quarter of this year. He said the government hoped to collect at least 8 billion roubles ($275 million) from the sale.
Interfax also quoted a "well informed source" as saying the privatisation plan, which also envisages the sale of state stakes in a number of small regional airlines and airports, was still subject to change.
The government holds 75 percent in Svyazinvest after a sale of 25 percent of the company to financier George Soros in 1997 for $1.9 billion. Soros sold his stake earlier this year to Len Blavatnik, a partner in the TNK-BP oil venture.
Officials have been long divided over how much to sell in Svyazinvest, with Telecoms Minister Leonid Reiman arguing last month that the state should retain a stake of nearly 50 percent.
Aeroflot has enjoyed stable revenue growth in recent years due to higher disposable incomes and travel rates among Russians.
The company has also benefited from Russians' more relaxed attitude towards global security threats that have hurt many airlines since September 11, 2001, attacks on US sites.
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