REUTERS NEXT NEWSWMAKER-Georgieva says Treasury's Bessent understands need for IMF's role

WASHINGTON, March 31 (Reuters) - International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said on Monday that she had a "very constructive" initial meeting with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and said that he understands the need for the IMF as the global lender of last resort.

"Secretary Bessent has a good appreciation for why it is in the interests of the U.S. economy that the Fund exists. We are the only institution that has the capacity to rescue countries when they are in trouble," she said.

Georgieva also said that the U.S., the IMF's largest shareholder, has earned some $3.2 billion on its IMF resources over the past two years, with the holdings acting "like a savings account."