President Javier Milei will open the legislative assembly, while the market closely watches his speech and the projected reforms for this year. In his speech, which is expected to last just over 30 minutes, Milei is set to present an ambitious plan covering more than 40 legislative reforms related to the ministries that make up the government's structure. The opening session will be attended by governors, Supreme Court justices, legislators, former presidents, diplomats, and military officials. Meanwhile, the construction sector has lost 120,000 direct jobs between mid-2023 and 2024, due to a 25% drop in activity. The Argentine Chamber of Construction described a severe stagnation scenario derived from the "almost total absence of national public investment." Regarding industry, the sector has been severely weakened by the opening of imports. "I would have gone further," he stated in an interview with a local medium. The Central Bank of the Argentine Republic (BCRA) will publish the February Market Expectations Survey (REM). This document serves as an advance on certain economic variables, including inflation, the exchange rate, and GDP growth rate. The INDEC will also continue its schedule, releasing key indicators for January, such as the Manufacturing Industrial Production Index and the Construction Activity Indicators. Both sectors have been hit by the government's economic policies. The dollar has stabilized and closed the month at ARS 1,420, a 3.5% drop in February and the largest monthly decline in over six and a half years. Argentine Industrial Union (UIA) President MartÃn Rapallini noted: "Sectors that are not recovering are impacted not only by activity but also by the opening of imports. I am selling much smaller quantities and at much lower prices to adapt to international prices." As part of the "phase 4" of its monetary program, the Central Bank has accumulated 38 consecutive rounds of dollar purchases in the free market. In February, it acquired US$1.555 billion. Minister of Economy Luis Caputo will travel to the province of Mendoza to participate in the Investment and Business Forum as part of the 2026 Vendimia festival. His presence will allow for an analysis of the current context and growth opportunities for the country and the province. Governor Alfredo Cornejo, an allied governor who had anticipated his support for the labor reform, even demanded a further toughening of that initiative. On the last day of the month, the Central Bank purchased US$31 million, closing with reserves at US$45.560 billion and having acquired US$2.712 billion since the beginning of the year.
