ARGENTINA-GOVERNMENT LOOKING FOR MORE LOANS.
Economy Minister Carlos Fernández yesterday met with the chairman if the IDB International Development Bank, Luis Alberto Moreno, in Washington DC to discuss the details of a 1.8-billion-dollar loan for Argentina, official sources said.
The loan had been discussed by President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner with the IDB head during the Summit of the Americas, which took place at Trinidad and Tobago two weeks ago.
The head of the Economy Ministry yesterday said that the loan deal had not been closed, but that progress has been made and an accord might be near.
Carlos Fernández also met with the World Bank Vice-President for the Latin America and Caribbean Region Pamela Cox, to close an agreement that will allow the country to get a credit for two billion dollars, to finance a plan to clean the Matanza-Riachuelo basin, the most polluted rivers in Argentina.
Carlos Fernández headed for Argentina yesterday night after the last day of the IMF and World Bank’s Annual Assembly. At the assembly, the minister requested that the fund grant the developing nations more influence in the agency’s decision making.
Fernández also took part in the meeting of the World Bank Development Committee, formed by the finance ministers of the 24 member countries.
The committee discussed the effects of the international economic crisis on the developing world, the role of the international financial institutions, and the representation of the developing countries, among other issues.
"Guaranteeing the economic growth and the protection of the most vulnerable are absolute priorities," Fernández said at the meeting.