Milei’s actor friend runs state agency with multi-million-dollar budget

A body dedicated to encouraging international investment in Argentina, headed by a close friend of President Javier Milei, is in the public eye after its multi-million-dollar budget was revealed publicly.

The Agencia Argentina de Inversiones y Comercio Internacional (Argentine Agency for Investment and International Trade, AAICI) has received 17.2 billion pesos over the past nine months, according to a report by the Perfil newspaper published over the weekend.

The figure, which amounts to more than US$14 million at the current exchange rate, exceeds even the latest budget increase granted to the prestigious Garrahan Children’s Hospital, which has been at the centre of a funding row after its allocation was frozen last November.

The AAICI is headed by Diego Sucalesca, an actor and theatre impresario who is reportedly a close friend of President Milei. He took on the role in July 2024 and since then, has received multimillion-peso transfers from the office of presidential chief-of-staff Karina Milei, the President’s sister. 

The investigation by the Perfil newspaper revealed that in 2025 alone, the AAICI has already received more than 4.3 billion pesos, with a projected annual budget of 13 billion pesos. Including 2024 transfers, the total reaches 25.898 billion pesos.

Meanwhile, the Garrahan Hospital – currently in deep crisis due to staff unrest – received an increase of 16.651 billion pesos, with no further adjustments since last year.

Despite receiving public funds, AAICI declined to answer questions from Perfil about Sucalesca’s salary, claiming it is a “private legal entity,” despite receiving state funding.

The agency’s expenditure includes multimillion-peso expenditure related to trade fairs in the United States, Chile and Italy. 

Critics may argue, however, that the agency’s results have not lived up to expectations: according to the Central Bank, foreign direct investment fell in the final quarter of 2024, with a negative balance of US$356 million.

Earlier this year, Milei announced he plans to star in a theatrical production in which capitalism will be put on trial, entitled Juicio al capitalismo (“Trial of Capitalism”).

According to the self-proclaimed “anarcho capitalist,” it will also star a number of “voluptuous blondes” dressed as the Statue of Liberty. 

Milei has promised that all proceeds would be donated to the Garrahan Hospital. 

Staff at the hospital reacted angrily, calling the announcement a “load of nonsense.”

– TIMES/NA/PERFIL