Sofia, September 9 (BTA) - The Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, Dr Kristalina Georgieva, received an honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters from the American University in Bulgaria (AUBG) at a formal award ceremony here on Wednesday.

The insignia were presented to the honorary degree recipient by the AUBG President, Dr David Evans, and by Board of Trustees Deputy Chair Victoria Entwistle. They acknowledged Georgieva's significant humane activity, her lasting contribution to the cause of education, and her active work in international cooperation.

Addressing the guests and the students at the event, the honorary degree recipient stressed that investment in human resources and building human capital are fundamental to a strong economy.

"Apart from vibrant, educated, healthy and socially active people, values like empathy, humaneness and kindness are necessary, too, because we need each other in this world," Georgieva said.

She noted that the world economy was on the verge of collapse in 2020. The COVID crisis taught people that they are interdependent and can do incredible things within such a short time, when acting under pressure - like inventing the coronavirus vaccine. Another lesson of the crisis is that economic policy cannot be left to economists only, the IMF Managing Director said.

The Honorary Degree Award Ceremony was attended by the US Ambassador in Sofia Herro Mustafa, Blagoevgrad Mayor Ilko Stoyanov, Blagoevgrad Regional Governor Nikolay Shushkov, and Municipal Council Chair Radoslav Taskov.

On the AUBG campus, Georgieva met with students to answer their questions. DT/LG
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Source: Sofia