The government is looking at divesting shares in Airports Fiji Limited, Fiji Ports Corporation Limited and the Fiji Electricity Authority next year.
While speaking during Question Time in parliament, Finance Minister Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum said divesting the shares in some of the companies is to bring efficiency and to have the best output.
While answering SODELPA MP, Mosese Bulitavo's question, Sayed-Khaiyum said divesting shares in Fiji Ports Terminal is already working well for the country as a high level of efficiency has been achieved with vessel turnaround times increasing by 33 percent.
More than $500 million worth of government shares or assets are expected to be sold next year.
However Sayed-Khaiyum stressed that the 2015 National Budget operating expenditure is not dependent on the sale of shares and assets.
Bulitavo then stopped Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum and said that he should give a simple answer.
SODELPA parliamentarian, Niko Nawaikula then asked a further question.
Sayed-Khaiyum again clarified what he had said earlier and stressed that the divestment of shares is through an open tender process and the government is not selling the controlling interest in these companies.
