PERU TO SELL 40 STATE FIRMS TO CUT BUDGET DEFICIT peru will sell about 40 state-owned firms to trim a projected 740 mln dlrs loss this year among government-owned companies. Some companies would be sold in their entirety and others would be privatised only partially, according to jose palomino, president of the government's state company holding firm, the national development council (conade). He told reporters in a radio interview that the aim was to slim a projected public sector firm deficit of 11 billion intis. He did not say if foreigners would be allowed to buy all or part of the companies. Independent economists warn that the deficit could push inflation to between 60 and 100 pct in 1987, against the govenment target of 40-50 pct. Palomino said aeroperu, the government flagship airline with a 10-jet fleet, would issue stock for purchase by private investors. The company in 1986 registered its first profit in eight years, earning about 44.6 mln intis in pre-tax profits. Peru has about 140 non-financial state firms. Palomino said the government would soon publish a list of those to be sold, including those whose shares would be offered on the lima stock exchange. Last november, palomino said conade's plans included the possible sale of a company producing palm oil and another manufacturing electrical appliances. Shares could also be sold in a copper mine, empresa nacional tintaya sa, in the southern state of arequipa. Neither Palomino nor conade's general manager, enrique estremadoyro, were available for comment on whether foreigners would be allowed to purchase the companies. Their secretaries said they were out of their offices. Jose antonio almenara, the general manager of the lima stock exchange, where shares of the state-owned firms could be sold, told reuters that the only foreigners who could purchase stock at the exchange had to be tax-paying residents of peru. He said foreign stockholders cannot remit profits abroad until at least july 1988.