World Bank, IDB approve $1.8 billion in loans to Argentina

WASHINGTON – The World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank are providing Argentina with three loans totalling more than $1.8 billion, aiming to help the South American country cope with financial difficulties and support citizens most at risk.

The World Bank said Thursday in a press release that a first loan of $500 million will go toward budget needs and a second loan of $450 million will seek to protect 250,000 children by 2020.

“This support to Argentina, especially focused on the most vulnerable sectors, comes at a crucial moment for our country and is a clear sign of confidence,” said Nicolas Dujovne, Argentina’s minister of finance.

The Inter-American Development Bank said it approved a loan for $900 million —two-thirds of which will be disbursed this year— to help at least four million people.

The announcements come a week after the International Monetary Fund increased a loan it had granted to Argentina in June to $56.3 billion.

Argentines have been hit by a sharp depreciation of the peso amid double-digit inflation, with the currency losing more than half of its value this year.