Mr Minh said that the difficulties the company has to face during the equitisation process have nearly been resolved. The BCC (business cooperation contract) with Swedish Comvik has been liquidated, while the company has received direct instructions from the Government on detailed problems.

Now VMS is selecting the foreign consultant who will help build up the project on the company’s equitisation as requested by the Prime Minister. “Several experienced and prestigious consultants have contacted VMS, and we will choose suitable consultants in some days,” said Mr Minh.

“Our goal is to finish the equitisation in 2007,” he added.

Prior to that, the high ranking of the Ministry of Post and Telematics and the Vietnam Post and Telecommunication Group (VNPT) have also committed to undertake and complete MobiFone’s equitisation in 2007.

When talking about the attractiveness of VMS’s shares on the stock market, Mr Minh said that MobiFone itself now is a big trademark in Vietnam’s and regional markets. When it lists on the bourse, it would be a good opportunity for the company to develop and grow its trademark further.

In a recent survey conducted by Thoi bao kinh te Vietnam on the most attractive share items, the shares of the telecom companies proved to be the third attractive share item in the eyes of investors, after the finance and banking, and oil and gas industry, and more attractive than real estate, power and high technologies.

MobiFone plans to have 2.5mil subscribers more in 2007 and install 3,000 BTS (base transceiver stations) more in order to expand the coverage area.

(Source: TBKTVN)