IAR Ghimbav Privatization Postponed Again

Two weeks remain until the expiry of the extended deadline for the submission of bids for the privatization of helicopter manufacturer IAR - Ghimbav. So far, the management has received no news of a change of plans or of a possible tender. Sources from the State Assets Recovery Authority (AVAS) say the deadline may be extended again.

All of the IAR employees are on holiday until August 15th. All operations are suspended until then "All employees are on holiday. This is normal. We"ve been doing it for seven years," said Suba Arpad, the IAR union leader.

Regarding AVAS" decision to repeatedly postpone the deadline for the submission of bids for the factory is not good news, but not bad news either. "I can"t say whether it is a good idea to postpone the privatization. When the latest postponement was enacted, we asked AVAS for an official explanation. We haven"t received any answer yet. We made another request and still no answer," Suba said.

The first privatization announcement / invitation to tender was published on December 14th, 2006. When the deadline expired, it was extended two times by 30 days each. AVAS sources said it could be extended again. During that period Eurocopter should complement the tender participation documentation.

"I have no information whatsoever, either from AVAS or from Eurocopter. I don"t know what solution AVAS is going to come up with. What I do know is that our cooperation with Eurocopter SAS is absolutely necessary for the future of IAR - Ghimbav," said IAR General Manager Neculai Banea.