Omniva to be privatised
Estonia’s Minister of Economic Affairs and Infrastructure, Kristen Michal, has said that Eesti Post (Omniva) will be partially privatised – but there is no set time table. Michal commented: “We have two aspects here that we would like to draw attention to. One aspect is how the state offers an universal postal service, which is regulated by legislation; however, the package delivery business is not the state’s core function, at least in my personal opinion.”
The focus, therefore, is on how the package delivery business could be partially privatised, and the Economics Minister has indicated that this might be achieved either through an offering on the stock exchange, or by finding a partner company.
“Several weeks ago the government gave their mandate so that we could review the package delivery business of Omniva,” said Michal.
In a statement sent to Post&Parcel today (18 May), Omniva said:”The final decision-making has been suspended due to the legislative intent to prepare a new Estonian Postal Act.”
The Omniva statement added: “Although the decision to privatise the postal company might be made this year, Michal foresees that this idea will be implemented in a few years.
“However, he also said that the situation with the privatisation of Eesti Post might clear up already within several months.”
Commenting on the prospect of future privatisation, Aavo Kärmas, Chairman of the Management Board of Eesti Post, said: “In Europe, an increasing number of postal companies are privatised – there are minor and major shareholdings, and also companies that are completely privatised.
“Even when a company is privatised, it does not mean in any way that the universal postal service should take a hit.”
