MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Argentina's Economy minister holds “very constructive” talks with IMF chief

The meeting between Kristalina Georgieva and minister Martin Guzman took place in Rome, ahead of an economists’ conference at the Vatican this Wednesday

Argentina’s Economy Minister Martin Guzman met the head of the International Monetary Fund Kristalina Georgieva for two-and-a-half hours on Tuesday to discuss the country’s economic emergency, the ministry said.

 The financially troubled country is revamping its debt as the government tries to jump-start growth while inflation soars above 50%.

“We will continue our conversations with the fund, in a framework of growing mutual understanding,” Guzman said in the statement, adding that talks included “policies to resolve Argentina’s sovereign debt crisis in a sustainable way.”

“We agreed to continue deepening our dialog next week, when a technical mission from the IMF will visit Argentina,” Guzman said, calling Tuesday's meeting “very constructive.”

The meeting took place in Rome, ahead of an economists’ conference at the Vatican scheduled for Wednesday.

“We agreed to continue deepening our dialogue next week, when a technical mission from the IMF will visit Argentina,” Guzman said, calling Tuesday’s meeting “very constructive”.

Buenos Aires province narrowly averted default earlier in the day, saying it would make a US$ 277 million payment on a 2021 bond after creditors declined a last-minute appeal to delay it.