José Luis Manzano
heads the holding company Integra Capital, sponsor of the International Economic Forum of the Americas, which this year had as its main attraction Rodrigo Valdes, head of the Western Hemisphere of the IMF, and who supervises the Argentine case.
The businessman is a shareholder in the oil company Phoenix Global Resources and has interests in
Metrogas, Edenor and Edemsa
(Mendoza).
Before participating as a
speaker
at the meeting, the former Minister of the Interior of Carlos Menem, agreed to answer some questions from
Clarín
:
-How are you seeing Argentina?
-I see it with
optimism
, the measures are in the
right direction
.
There are two ingredients that must be built every day and that I believe was seen in this dynamic between the Government and Congress and the governors, and in the flexibility in the policy with retirements, which is having a
firm course;
have sensitivity for those who are going to be left behind
and have more difficulties;
and build a context of
more harmony in the political system
.
I am optimistic.
There are signs of
maturity and clarity
in the diagnosis that
the inflation and issuance volume we had are not working.
-As the owner of Edenor, do you think delinquencies will increase?
-We have to accompany a transition,
we have to see how the industry and families receive the rates
, have flexibility to be able to absorb that, be able to listen to the cases.
The Government is going to adjust its subsidy policy, there will be a drop in demand accompanying the recession and, later, there will be a recovery, but for now
we must be sensitive
, so that no one is left behind, we must look at those who may be left behind. back in this process of change.
-And Argentina's relationship in the world?
The global situation is that we are going to slow growth, with a decoupling of Asian economies from Western economies, which poses a challenge to countries to preserve their markets and find markets.
It will be a context of slow growth but the risk of high global inflation has passed and slow growth is better than global recession.
It is a context not of euphoria but of great possibilities, because even in this slow growth,
Argentina has what the world is demanding and will demand.