Stocks owned by the government in 48 companies will be put up for auction at the Moldova Stock Exchange during July 6-9, Info-Prim Neo reports. The government intends to sell its interests in a number of tobacco processing companies (based in Falesti, Orhei and Soldanesti), canneries (in Calarasi and Olanesti), sugar plants, meat and milk processing firms. All of them were previously put up for auction, but remained without demand. “Before resuming the auctions (for publicly-owned property) there was an assessment of the shares owned in certain companies. Our intention is to keep the government's interests only in companies of vital importance. The other we are offering to the private sector, through auctions at the Stock Exchange, through investment contests, through other methods provided by the legislation, including public-private partnerships”, said Economy Minister Valeriu Lazar.