The national government has updated the data corresponding to the debt that the Central Bank has with importers and which has already been reached 26 billion dollars.
As specified by the Ministry of Commerce, “the register of trade debts for imports with foreign suppliers has reached 26,000 million dollars registered”. This amount is made up of 20.5 billion dollars from large companies; 2.8 billion dollars by medium-sized companies; AND 2.7 billion dollars of small and micro businesses.
The data is relevant because when the change of government occurred, Business chambers estimated the debt amounted to about $60 billion. This happened because, in the midst of exchange controls, the Central Bank denied importers who had already approved SIRA (import authorizations) access to dollars to pay their obligations abroad.
In this context, the alternative that importing companies had was to pay with their own dollars, get into debt with the parent companies or acquire foreign currency in cash, at times when the exchange rate gap with the official one exceeded 100%.
With the hiring of Javier Milei, the opening of a register was established for businesses to register their debts. Thus, until last week, the debts had been recorded 21 billion dollars. This amount has now been updated to 26 billion dollars.
At the same time, it was reported that $2.9 billion in debts had already been written off.
Faced with the shortage of foreign currency, the new government’s response was to offer importers a bonus, the BOPREAL, which They can use it to pay taxes and sell it on the secondary market.
After two failed tenders, last week the Government improved the incentives and managed to win 1,200 million dollars, which is added to the 127 million dollars that he had obtained in previous operations.
The Secretary of Commerce reported that of Registered $26,000 million, paid $2,900 millionsuch that the net amount due currently reaches 23.1 billion dollars. “In this way, the implementation of the Registry allows for the recording of updated information on current private commercial debt to address this issue,” reads the official note.
They also stated that “it is obligatory register the debt until 01/24/24 for all those who imported before 12/13/23 and did not have access to the Single Free Trade Market (MULC)”.
If the imports have been canceled by other means – other than the MULC – the companies”They must indicate the operation as “completed” in the Register. conclude the operation in front of the financial institutions”.
The Registry has also included the possibility of reporting commercial debts generated by proceeds to Free Zones (through ZFI), Private Couriers and Services already accrued without SIRASE presented or awaiting approval.
Source: Clarin
