Dubai: A subsidiary of Dubai Holding is searching for buyers for its 35% stake in Tunisia’s biggest mobile phone operator, according to a statement from the Tunisian ministry of information and communication.

According to a statement by the ministry, the Tunisian government wants a global telecom operator with experience in the field to buy the stake. A Dubai Holding representative declined to comment.

A pair of Dubai Holding units purchased the Tunisie Telecom stake in 2006 for a reported $2.25 billion. It was later transferred to Emirates International Telecommunications,another subsidiary that holds the company’s communications assets.