President Hipolito Mejia announced in Monte Plata, to the North of Santo Domingo, that the talks with the IMF had concluded, and that next week he would send the 2004 Budget to Congress for approval. The National Development Council will look at the RD$120-billion budget, representing expenditures of RD$37 billion more than last year, before it goes to Congress. The new budget includes RD$100 billion in regular income and RD$20 billion in international aid and donations.