Technical Secretary of the Presidency Carlos Despradel will present the RD$120-billion 2004 National Budget to the National Development Council at the Presidential Palace. According to reports, the budget will be sent tomorrow to Congress, where it must be approved before the Christmas break. The government is purportedly counting on resources from a 5% tax on exports, currently awaiting approval from the Chamber of Deputies, as well as from increases to already existing taxes, so as to meet revenue levels set by the International Monetary Fund. Officers of the IMF have been in the DR for talks regarding the resumption of the suspended IMF agreement. Despradel said he trusted the officers would be able to return to Washington tomorrow with the now-sanctioned agreements regarding government revenues and spending in order to secure a final approval to resume the two-year standby arrangement with the IMF.