There were estimated to be between 400,000 and 750,000 Iraqis employed by state-owned enterprises , but most of the businesses were non- operative , he said .

There are estimated to be between 400,000 and 750,000 Iraqis employed by state-owned enterprises in Iraq , but most of the businesses are currently inoperative , he said .

Select from the options at the end. Do the above sentences mean the same thing?
OPTIONS:
[a]. no.
[b]. yes.
[b].