The Government extended the "Now 12" program until the end of the year

07/01/2020 - 5:13

• Clarín.com
• Economy

The Government made official on Wednesday the extension of the "Now 12" program until the end of the year, amid the drop in activity and amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Resolution 201/2020 of the Ministry of Productive Development, which appeared in the Official Gazette, establishes that the plan - which expired this Tuesday - will  continue until December 31.

The extension of "Now 12" had been anticipated last Thursday by Minister Matías Kulfas. On that occasion, the official referred to the preparations for "the day after" the coronavirus pandemic, with the continuation of "Now 12" as one of its elements.

This Wednesday, Resolution 201 confirmed the renewal of the voluntary plan, with options ranging from 3 to 18 fixed fees.

"As indicated in the previous extensions of the aforementioned Program, it has been shown to be effective in strengthening the internal market , expanding access to goods and increasing and sustaining demand levels, stimulating investment and local production, and consolidating creation of more and better employment ", maintains the official text.

In addition, changes were made to the regulations of the program: "It corresponds to generate a stable, predictable, integrated, clear regulatory framework, in a language that facilitates its knowledge and understanding, and consequently, the performance and decision-making of individuals and companies that are part of it. "

The items included in each payment plan are as follows:

• 3 and 6 installments: clothing, footwear and leather goods, furniture, tourism (this item only in 6 installments), books, glasses, bookstore articles, toys and board games, light fixtures, perfumery, food, medicines and lamps and tubes LED lighting (in the latter case, without distinguishing whether they were manufactured in Argentina or abroad).
  
• 12 and 18 installments : white goods, clothing, footwear and leather goods, construction materials and tools, furniture, bicycles, motorcycles (up to 180 thousand pesos), tourism, mattresses, glasses (this item only in 12 installments), toys and board games, 4G cell phones, tires, accessories, CNG gas vehicle conversion kit and auto and motorcycle parts, musical instruments, computers, notebooks and tablets, televisions, perfumery, small household appliances, sports preparation services ( includes gyms), medical equipment, food and medications.

The program covers purchases in shops, supermarkets, hypermarkets and general stores, face-to-face or virtual, according to the adhesion of the locals and the credit cards they use.

At the moment, the interest rate - which is usually absorbed by businesses - is 20.3% in the 3-installment plan, 23.11% for the 6-installment plan, 25.06% for the variant 12 and 25.89% for the 18 installments. The site "Ahora 12" has a list of shops that guarantee interest-free installments.

"We are going to relaunch the program with additional benefits that we are discussing with the economic cabinet," said the minister when he announced the relaunch of the program.

Last April, after the coronavirus quarantine decree, the authorities incorporated food, medicine and other health-related products.