1. The government leads “Argentina Week” in Paris to attract foreign investment
The Argentine government arrived in Paris with a new edition of “Argentina Week,” a forum aimed at attracting foreign investment in energy, mining, agribusiness, and infrastructure, with the headquarters of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) serving as the central venue. The event, titled “Argentina’s Transformation: Investment Opportunities,” brought together Javier Milei, Economy Minister Luis Caputo, Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno, Federico Sturzenegger, and Central Bank of Argentina (BCRA) Governor Santiago Bausili, along with 13 governors, as a sign of regional support looking ahead to 2027. The launch was also attended by French Economy Minister Roland Lescure. In this context, Luis Caputo stated that “The only risk in Argentina is missing out on the opportunity to invest,” and defined “respecting the sanctity of contracts” as the government’s main achievement. For his part, Milei made a promise to potential investors: if he is reelected, “2028 will be the best economic year in history.” At the same time, he was received by his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, at the Élysée Palace. During the bilateral meeting, the French side inquired about sustaining the budget surplus and “the issue of fiscal adjustment,” and Milei described Macron as a “friend” despite their ideological differences. At the end of the first day of the roadshow, the Minister of Deregulation and State Transformation, Sturzenegger, outlined the model’s four pillars: fiscal balance , deregulation, property rights, and trade liberalization; and regarding artificial intelligence, he rejected preventive regulation.
Infobae: Milei dijo en París que cuenta con “una bazuca” de USD 75.000 millones para enfrentar “intentos desestabilizadores y golpistas”
2. The IDEA Colloquium discussed how to maintain economic stability over the next two decades
As part of the 62nd IDEA Colloquium, nearly 1,000 executives gathered at the Sheraton in Mar del Plata: There was a general consensus in support of stabilization, with fiscal balance and lower inflation cited as the main achievements, though there was a persistent call for tax cuts. However, the attention was focused on 2027, as business leaders link their investment decisions to the election results. This year’s event was designed to examine international success stories, such as Australia, Ireland, Israel, Chile, Poland, and Peru, to analyze how these countries managed to leave cycles of instability behind and sustain growth. Its president, Fabián Kon (CEO of Grupo Galicia), identified two common factors: international integration and access to financing, and argued that the central question is “how can we intelligently integrate ourselves into the world?” He also supported fiscal balance, the independence of the Central Bank of Argentina (BCRA), labor reform, and deregulation, but cautioned that consolidating low inflation could take between four and ten years. The focus was on a twenty-year horizon: “Can we grow for twenty years with stability? Our answer is yes,” in order to move “from promise to power.” President Javier Milei also spoke virtually from Paris, where he is participating in Argentina Week. He asked for patience, noting that “growth processes take a long time”; he described fiscal balance as “the central anchor of this program”; and he promised that, after 2027, the reforms would proceed at a “unique and unrepeatable” pace.
3. The balance of payments posted a surplus due to an increase in exports
The current account returned to positive territory in the second quarter of 2026, with a surplus of US$2,214 million, reversing the deficits recorded in the second quarter of 2025 (-US$2,452 million) and the first quarter of 2026 (-US$2,411 million). This result was driven by the trade balance in goods, which posted a surplus of US$9,293 million, fueled by higher exports and a decline in imports. Exports of goods totaled US$27,557 million, more than US$6,000 million above the previous year’s figure, while imports fell slightly to US$18,264 million. Including services, foreign sales reached US$32,499 million, an all-time high, with a year-over-year increase of 28.2%. Exports of services also hit a record high at US$4,942 million, driven primarily by business services, telecommunications, and information technology (+15.3%). Economy Minister Luis Caputo welcomed these figures and stated that “Exports of goods and services reached an all-time high in the second quarter of the year.” However, this positive outcome was offset by a US$6,032 million deficit in the primary income account, due to higher dividend remittances, and the services balance remained negative at US$2,102 million, despite having narrowed its deficit. The financial account showed a net outflow of capital of US$2,542 million, compared with a net inflow a year earlier. At the same time, gross external debt stood at US$312,425 million, with the increase attributable almost entirely to the general government (+US$6,446 million) and strong growth in the provinces (+8.7%, to US$17,109 million), while the Central Bank’s debt decreased by US$1,262 million.
El Cronista: La cuenta corriente de Argentina retomó el superávit en el segundo trimestre: por dónde creció la deuda
4. The Government Confidence Index fell 5.9% in September, reaching its lowest level during Milei’s administration
The Government Confidence Index (ICG), compiled by Torcuato Di Tella University (UTDT), fell 5.9% in September 2026 to 1.94 points (on a scale of 0 to 5), the lowest level during Javier Milei’s administration. As a result, the ICG has recorded a cumulative decline of 21.5% for the year and is approaching what is described as the “defeat zone.” The index, based on a national survey of 1,000 people with five questions about the administration, showed a decline in all five of its components in September, with the sharpest drops in the overall evaluation of the government( which fell from -9.3% to 1.60) and concern for the public interest, which dropped from -12.3% to 1.50. The data is tracked as an electoral predictor, and its informal equivalent would currently stand at 38.8%; at similar levels, other ruling parties such as those led by Mauricio Macri and Alberto Fernández, lost their re-election bids. However, one of the index’s developers, political scientist Carlos Gervasoni, put the figure into perspective, noting that “It’s a normal, typical, average number for this stage of the presidency,” and pointing out that the ICG “is a good predictor of what happens later in the election cycle,” but especially as the election approaches. In a historical comparison, this month’s ICG placed the government at an intermediate level, below Néstor Kirchner and above Alberto Fernández. The sharpest declines were seen among young people aged 18 to 29, people with higher education, and victims of crime. The decline also coincides with adverse economic indicators, as economic activity fell 2.9% in July (the worst decline since April 2020) and poverty affects more than 15 million people.
5. The Supreme Court opened up a new front for the government in Congress
The Supreme Court upheld the repeal of the Land Law included in an Emergency and reshuffled the entire legislative landscape in just a few hours, wiping out the roadmap that La Libertad Avanza had laid out for the Chamber of Deputies through November. The opposition has reignited its push to overturn Emergency Decree 70/23 in the Chamber of Deputies, a measure that had already been rejected by the Senate in March 2024 but had never been considered by the lower house. This move puts at stake one of the cornerstones of Javier Milei’s administration and the legal framework underpinning much of his deregulation policy. However, the opposition would need about 18 more deputies to reach the quorum required to reject the entire Decree, which involves much more than simply reinstating the Land Law: it encompasses regulations on rent, fishing, trade, services, the financial system, and other activities where provincial and sectoral interests intersect. For now, a group of 31 deputies from various opposition blocs has submitted a request for a special session on October 15, with the aim of addressing the Disability and Over-Indebtedness bills and rejecting Emergency Decree 70/23. The ruling party had secured majority opinions on the Disability and Over-Indebtedness bills last week and this week, respectively, and had also set the stage for debate on the Law on the Defense of National Sovereignty, which was scheduled to be discussed in session on October 21.