The fact that the state-owned France Telecom enjoys a monopoly at home does not discourage it from participating in foreign privatisations and former French colonies should prove a happy hunting ground. Yesterday, the company announced that it plans to form a consortium with local and foreign investors to bid for the Cote d’Ivoire’s state-owned CI-Telcom, which is to be privatised. France Telecom managing director Marc Dandelot said after talks with Ivorian President Henri Konan Bedie on Monday that the government wants privatisation to begin before the end of the year. France Telecom already holds a cellular licence for the West African country, but Dandelot expects CI-Telcom to be put out for competitive tender rather than simply sold to his firm.
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