Greece steps up privatization program

 　　ATHENS, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) -- Greece gave a new boost to its stagnant¹ privatization program on Wednesday with the launch of an international public tender for the development of two major projects.

　　The tender involves the Astir Palace luxury resort complex on the so-called Attica's Riviera, and the second phase for development of the former "Hellenikon" international airport at the southern coastline of Athens.

　　Greece's National Bank, the largest shareholder² in Astir Palace Vouliagmeni S.A., and a smaller shareholder -- the state privatization fund Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund (HRADF), invited potential investors³ to submit first expressions of interest for the acquisition of a majority participation⁴ in the entity's share capital.

　　The deadline for the first phase of the tender concerning the 307,000 square-meter hotel complex and land plot situated⁵ 25 km from the Athens International Airport expires on Feb. 28, 2013.

　　In the meantime, HRADF proceeds to the second phase of the tender for the development of "Hellenikon" with three bidders⁶ - the local Lamda Development S.A., the Israeli Elbit Cochin Island Ltd. and British London & Regional Properties.

　　The eligible⁷ investors are now called to submit their binding⁸ offers for the acquisition of 100 percent of shares of Hellenikon S.A. and final business plans for the site's development in July 2013.

　　Greek state officials expect that this project will boost Greek GDP by some 0.3 percent annually⁹ and create more than 10,000 job positions in the next decade in a debt-laden country hit hard by recession and record high unemployment rates over the past three years.

　　Greek government aims to accelerate at least 11 sell-off projects within the second quarter of 2013. The country seeks to raise about 50 billion euros (67 billion U.S. dollars) from the program by 2020 under terms of bailout deals with international lenders who keep the country afloat since 2010.

　　So far, Athens has raised just 2 billion euros, as the program lagged due to strong reactions by labor¹⁰ unions and limbo¹¹ due to last year's two general elections. (1 euro = 1.33 U.S. dollars)

1 stagnant   

adj.不流动的，停滞的，不景气的

参考例句：

• Due to low investment,industrial output has remained stagnant.由于投资少，工业生产一直停滞不前。
• Their national economy is stagnant.他们的国家经济停滞不前。

2 shareholder   

n.股东，股票持有人

参考例句：

• The account department have prepare a financial statement for the shareholder.财务部为股东准备了一份财务报表。
• A shareholder may transfer his shares in accordance with the law.股东持有的股份可以依法转让。

3 investors   

n.投资者，出资者( investor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a con man who bilked investors out of millions of dollars 诈取投资者几百万元的骗子
• a cash bonanza for investors 投资者的赚钱机会

4 participation   

n.参与，参加，分享

参考例句：

• Some of the magic tricks called for audience participation.有些魔术要求有观众的参与。
• The scheme aims to encourage increased participation in sporting activities.这个方案旨在鼓励大众更多地参与体育活动。

5 situated   

adj.坐落在...的，处于某种境地的

参考例句：

• The village is situated at the margin of a forest.村子位于森林的边缘。
• She is awkwardly situated.她的处境困难。

6 bidders   

n.出价者，投标人( bidder的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Bidders should proceed only if they intend on using a PayPal account to complete payment. Bidders的唯一形式，应继续只当他们在使用贝宝帐户，以完成付款打算。 来自互联网
• The other bidders for the contract complained that it had not been a fair contest. 其他竞标人抱怨说该合同的竞标不公平。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 eligible   

adj.有条件被选中的；(尤指婚姻等)合适(意)的

参考例句：

• He is an eligible young man.他是一个合格的年轻人。
• Helen married an eligible bachelor.海伦嫁给了一个中意的单身汉。

8 binding   

有约束力的，有效的，应遵守的

参考例句：

• The contract was not signed and has no binding force. 合同没有签署因而没有约束力。
• Both sides have agreed that the arbitration will be binding. 双方都赞同仲裁具有约束力。

9 annually   

adv.一年一次，每年

参考例句：

• Many migratory birds visit this lake annually.许多候鸟每年到这个湖上作短期逗留。
• They celebrate their wedding anniversary annually.他们每年庆祝一番结婚纪念日。

10 labor   

n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦

参考例句：

• We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
• He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。

11 limbo   

n.地狱的边缘；监狱

参考例句：

• His life seemed stuck in limbo and he could not go forward and he could not go back.他的生活好像陷入了不知所措的境地，进退两难。
• I didn't know whether my family was alive or dead.I felt as if I was in limbo.我不知道家人是生是死，感觉自己茫然无措。