Overview
- The minister of Economy, Luis Caputo, told the IMF and World Bank meetings in Bangkok on October 17, 2026 that Argentina has an “excess of dollars” driven by BCRA purchases of more than US$100 million a day and about US$16 billion acquired this year.
- Caputo cited the Régimen de Incentivo para Grandes Inversiones (RIGI) as a key source of dollars, saying US$50 billion in projects are approved and another US$160 billion are under evaluation.
- He argued that the combined effect of central bank purchases and RIGI commitments would be sufficient to lift the remaining currency controls that still restrict companies’ access to the official market.
- Journalists and analysts note that RIGI figures are investment commitments, not immediate dollar inflows, and Caputo himself acknowledged persistent difficulties accessing dollar financing in the local market and that a swap with China is being evaluated.
- The claim builds on the government’s broader reform narrative—including a reported 30% real cut in public spending and a sharp rise in private credit—but the timing and liquidity of pledged investments remain the key uncertainties that will determine when companies regain full access to dollars.