Odisha-born RBI Governor wins Asia Pacific Central Banker of the Year

Bhubaneswar: Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Shaktikanta Das from Odisha has been named the Central Banker of the Year, Asia-Pacific 2020, by the Banker magazine, a unit of Financial Times.

The award is given to central bankers, who have best managed to stimulate growth and stabilise their economy.

The magazine said Das was honoured for managing India’s banking sector that has faced a series of challenges such as non-performing loans and fraud. Repeated economic slumps saw the central bank cut interest rates five times during 2019, and it was open to cutting them again, if necessary, said a statement released by the magazine. It further said that Das tried to manage banking issues within the financial system, a risky move but one that will reduce dependence on the central bank.

Besides, Jorgovanka Tabakovi, National Bank of Serbia, was adjudged the winner as the Global Central Banker of the Year. The awards were announced in an editorial of the Banker magazine on January 2.