Riyadh – Mubasher: Saudi government expects collecting around $200 billion in the next several years by selling stakes in state enterprises in fields of healthcare to airports, vice economy minister said.

Mohammed al-Tuwaijri added to Reuters on Thursday that the aforementioned number was based on detailed studies of valuations and market demand since the announcement of the privitisation plans one year ago.

The vice minister noted that administrative preparations are now completed and the government intends to privitise some assets this year in four sectors: sports, electricity generation, water provision, and grain silos,

"This year we have a crystal clear idea on market demand size, valuation, financial advisers ... the market appetite locally and globally, cash flow certainty, government offtakes, structure," al-Tuwaijri said highliting that this is all done.

Al-Tuwaijri pinpointed that the $200 billion did not include tens of billions of dollars which the government expects to raise next year for the offering of the 5% of Aramco's shares.

Saudi Arabia intends to fully or partly privitise state enterprises in 16 sectors

The vice minister of economy stated that Riyadh would be flexible in choosing structures preferred by investors, including initial public offers (IPOs), private placements of shares, and private equity deals.

Al-Tuwaijri mentioned that King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre in Riyadh is among the first assets to be offered.

"We are in a very advanced stage - appetite has been secured, the model is being made by relevant government authorities," Al-Tuwaijri told Reuters, adding that KSA sees the healthcare sector as the one with the best potential for privatisation and is studying the privitisation possibility for all public hospitals and 200,000 pharmacies.