What is the role of state in the operation of state joint-stock company (SJSC) Riga International Airport?
– State owns a hundred per cent of Riga airport. I believe it is all right. We are not able to survive without state support yet. For all these years, state has not given a single cent to us. Nevertheless, it ensures stability as regards to taxing and infrastructure, which has a positive impact both on the company and on our clients. Since 1993, the airport has been gaining profit and developing intermittently. – What is your opinion of privatisation of establishments like the airport? – Generally, I stand for privatisation. However, it has to be performed very carefully. I consider that it can be done by selling shares through stock exchange, under condition that no more than one per cent of the shares are sold to one natural or legal person. They may be airlines or other shareholders. It is extremely important that there should be no strategic investor and the joint-stock company would become open to public. Dividends, paid to the shareholders, have to exceed the average bank deposit
