Washington: Anoop Singh, a former advisor to the Governor of Reserve Bank of India, has been appointed Director for Special Operations in the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

This is a newly created position.

Announcing Singh's appointment, IMF Managing Director Horst Kohler said, "The initiative will enhance the ability of the Fund to respond to critical situations affecting its member countries.”

"The IMF's considerable experience in managing such situations is at present diffused across departments. A key function of the new Director will be to bring together this experience so that it is directly supportive of area departments' work in critical situations."

Singh will immediately assume leadership for the IMF staff team that is working with the Argentine authorities, also working in close co-ordination with the Western Hemisphere Department as well as other departments in IMF.

"I am confident that this decision will strengthen the Fund's ongoing effort to help Argentina in formulating a comprehensive programme to overcome its severe economic and social crisis," Kohler said.

Singh is expected in the months ahead to make recommendations about enhancing the Fund's capacity in managing critical country situations, based on consultations with the IMF's area departments and the Policy Development and Review Department.

PTI