Washington
International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva has said that her conversation with Argentine President Alberto Fernandez was “very constructive and positive”. “I had a very constructive and positive conversation with President Fernandez,” Georgieva said as she noted that Fernandez has notified IMF of Argentina’s request for a new fund agreement with IMF. “We discussed the important challenges faced by Argentina, including in the context of the global pandemic, and the Argentine government’s priorities in the period ahead, in particular the need to reinvigorate the economy, while continuing to protect the most vulnerable,” Georgieva said in a statement. The IMF chief said she looks forward to deepening the dialogue with Argentina on “how we can best support the government’s efforts to manage the impact of the pandemic, jumpstart growth and job creation, and reduce poverty and unemployment while strengthening macroeconomic stability.” Argentina began formal talks with IMF on Wednesday to negotiate a new lending agreement to replace the one signed in mid-2018 as part of a 56 billion U.S. dollar bailout. — Xinhua
