The Listin Diario reports that the Inter-American Development Bank has US$400 million in preferential loans awaiting the IMF’s approval of the standby agreement with the Dominican Republic. Enrique Iglesias, president of the IDB, made the announcement in Monterrey, Mexico, as he talked with President Hipolito Mejia. Iglesias assured the Dominican leader that the directors of the IDB have given their approval for this disbursement, which is pending only the new stabilization package with the IMF. Mejia told reporters that the IMF team should arrive next week in the DR to formalize the agreement, as one of the preconditions was the formal approval of the 2004 budget, which was performed last week by the Congress.