Bulgaria's Kristalina Georgieva was officially appointed on Wednesday (September 25th) as head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). She becomes the first personality from an emerging economy to lead the financial institution.

This economist appointed by the European member countries of the IMF was leading the World Bank. At the age of 66, she had benefited, at the last minute, from a change in the status of the Fund, relating to the age limit, to make her application valid. She succeeds Christine Lagarde, who will take over the presidency of the European Central Bank later this autumn.

"I am taking up my new duties with a sense of the big challenges ahead," she said immediately after her appointment as Executive Director by the Board of Directors. His term of office will start on 1 October for a period of five years.

"Huge responsibility"

"Global economic growth continues to disappoint, trade tensions persist, and the debt burden is increasing in many countries," she noted, also noting the "enormous responsibility" to lead this institution in this region. unfavorable situation.

"In this context, my immediate priority at the head of the IMF will be to help the (189) member countries to minimize the risk of crises and to be ready to cope with the economic slowdown," she explained. saying "deeply honored to have been chosen" for this position.

In addition to the slowdown in the global economy, the economic crisis in Argentina will probably be one of the most difficult issues in the short term for Kristalina Georgieva.

Committed to women

Short-haired Kristalina Georgieva, cheerful and smiling, was named as the EU's candidate on 2 August after a tight vote due to divisions in the EU. His supporters had, however, put forward his solid experience in international finance.

At the World Bank, where she spent most of her career before becoming Executive Director in 2017, she gained environmental expertise by expanding roles in the area of ​​sustainable development. agricultural issues in particular.

In addition, she has worked extensively for women, calling for better education for girls, banning laws that impede women's work and encouraging their entrepreneurship, particularly in Africa. On this point, it should be part of Christine Lagarde's continuity.

With AFP and Reuters