Exclusive: Javier Milei’s government defaults on SMEs for more than $20 billion

The Government stopped paying support programs at least to 370 small and medium-sized companies that competed and obtained funds to develop specific projects. These are initiatives conceived in the previous administration but that had five signatures, the endorsement of a committee of evaluators and technical officials who continue on the economic team today. They estimate that only in the SME undersecretariat More than $20 billion are owed at 2023 values.

Although the Government says not to breach contracts, Scope was able to corroborate that since the end of last year The State accumulates debts with more than 300 companies that competed to obtain Non-Refundable Contributions within the framework of the Potencia Pymex Program, an initiative that sought to promote export projects.

“Absolutely nothing else has been signed. No payment has been made and it seems that there is no intention to do so, at Fondep everything has been stopped for a long time”a source aware of the movement of the files of the former Ministry of Productive Development revealed to Ámbito.

Uncertainty in companies

Among companies, uncertainty reigns. In many cases they received close to 40% of the funds committed during the previous administration but now they have no certainty about the rest of the maturities that fell in this period. Some, waiting for disbursements to occur, They continue to pay surety insurance, which represents a loss in the midst of an adverse context. for the industry.

“The State’s contribution is a carrot to move forward with the investment, in our case it did not represent more than 20% of the total,” an industrialist affected by the cessation of payments explained to this medium. ““We presented the guarantees, we moved forward with the project, we bought the machines, they even came to inspect us and told us that everything was in order, but now they don’t want to pay us”said.

The businessman, who preferred to remain anonymous, assured that the Secretariat led by Marcos Ayerra does not answer the phone either to him or to the chamber that represents his sector. Besides, He said he sent a dozen emails that also fell on deaf ears.

And the continuity of the State?

Although the programs were granted under the previous administration, they can hardly be characterized as “political.” They went through a committee of evaluators, had several signatures from different offices and were endorsed by technical officials who continue to work in the economic team today. The payment of these contributions is not optional, it is a commitment of the State.

“It is normal and common that when there is a change in management, disbursements are delayed because logically the new administrations want to review what the previous ones did. When Mauricio Macri took office there was a delay but it was paid and the same with Alberto Fernández. What is happening now has never happened before,” said a consultant with experience in the matter.

According to the files signed in 2023, there are more than 300 companies affected. The sectors are very varied: metallurgical, auto parts, biotechnology, wine companies, textiles, agriculture, plastics, cosmetics, among others. The amount owed would exceed $20,000 million at last year’s values. Although a source with an office in the Ministry of Economy acknowledged that there are also debts with institutions such as business chambers and universities.

Business support programs are not new. The SME Secretariat carried out similar competitions, with internal and external audits, so far no type of irregularity was revealed.