Divestment Minister Arun Shourie said the initial public offering of the shares of India's largest carmaker, Maruti Udyog Ltd, that opens on Thursday, would help the sale of other state-owned companies.

"Maruti's IPO will have a positive impact on Nalco and BPCL's sales and the primary market," Shourie told reporters on Wednesday.

The government is poised to sell its stake in National Aluminium Co and Bharat Petroleum Corp Ltd later this fiscal year.