there was a woman elected president this year - just, she's in Argentina

President Cristina Kirchner on Tuesday unveiled a massive public spending plan to pump more than 21 billion dollars into Argentina's infrastructure and counter effects of the global cash crunch.

"On December 15 we will launch the most ambitious public works programs in memory," said Kirchner, making the announcement at the closing ceremony of the trade association representing builders.

Argentina expects economic growth to slow to four percent in 2009, down from 6.5 percent expected for 2008. This follows years of growth nearing nine percent following the 2002 crisis.

"There are public works that call for (intensive) manual labor. Works that will mean hiring more than the 362,000 workers currently in the building sector, increasing the number to nearly 770,000 jobs," Kirchner said.

Construction has been one of the engines of Argentina's economic growth.

Argentina's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) increased 8.8 percent in 2003; 9 percent in 2004; 9.2 percent in 2005; 8.5 percent in 2006, and 8.7 percent in 2007.

Earlier in the day Kirchner announced proposed tax and investment incentives aimed at encouraging the repatriation of capital.

The measure would allow Argentines who bring back their funds stashed abroad and pay taxes of between one and eight percent, depending on where the funds are directed.