Due to the structural characteristics of the economies of the SEMCs and their relative degree of economic liberalization, some countries of the SEMCs have been undertaking ambitious privatization programs for more than a decade with the objective of:

• Restructure national economies by promoting a more competitive national economic environment;
• Attract foreign direct investment, an alternative privileged form of medium and long-term capital inflow, and until now considered insufficient to make the policy of economic liberalization and integration into the globalized economy succeed.
• Finance the current account deficit through the fresh inflows of capital mentioned above;
• Balance national budget deficits;
• And to develop the stock markets;