The Cabinet Committee on Divestment will meet on Tuesday to discuss among other things relaxation of bidding norms for Shipping Corporation of India to woo foreign bidders while taking Air-India and Indian Airlines off the divestment list.
The CCD, to be chaired by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, is also likely to consider divestment of Hoogly Printing Co, Hindustan Newsprint, Tide Water Oil,
Rashtriya Chemicals & Fertiliers, Hindustan Cable, National Building Construction Corporation and some properties of ITDC, official sources said in New Delhi.
Besides, the CCD is also likely to consider guidelines for employees making a bid for public sector companies on block.
The move to liberalise the bidding process for the Shipping Corporation of India would be aimed at attracting foreign shipping majors in the divestment process of SCI while the measures for strengthening A-I and IA would also be discussed after striking off the international and domestic carriers from the divestment list.
As major foreign shipping companies have not evinced keen interest in SCI divestment, CCD may consider rebidding for SCI. At present, a foreign company can have only 26 per cent in the consortium bidding for government's 51 per cent stake, a major constraint in attracting foreign bidders.
Only two companies are believed to be in the race to acquire strategic control in SCI and the government is likely to decide whether to proceed with the existing bidders or to invite bids afresh.