IMF’s Gita Gopinath on trial of the world’s smelliest fruit durian

The Deputy Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Gita Gopinath, is currently in Singapore for her first visit to the country. Taking to Twitter on Saturday, the 50-year-old revealed that she had visited hawker centers in Singapore and tried the native fruit Durian, which is one of the most fragrant fruits in the world.

Ms. Gopinath described the taste of the famous Asian fruit. “…try the native fruit Durian (taste like a mix of jackfruit and avocado),” she wrote in the caption of her social media post, adding, “Very unique. peddling is something”.

My first visit to Singapore, trying the native Durian fruit (tastes like a mixture of jackfruit and avocado). Very unique. Hawker centers are quite something. pic.twitter.com/voeANwguLK

—Gita Gopinath (@GitaGopinath) November 19, 2022

Durian is popular in Southeast Asia. It is distinguished by its large size and hard, spiky outer shell. It is very rich in nutrients, however, the unique tropical fruit also gets a bad rap due to its strong pungent smell. According to reports, the smell of the fruit is so stinky that some establishments in Singapore have banned the use or entry of the fruit.

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“Very dangerous fruit 🙂 from a sign in Thailand last week,” one Twitter user wrote in the comments section of Ms Gopinath’s tweet. “In Bagkok, some hotels are doing well if you enter with durian,” another wrote.

Very dangerous fruit 🙂 from a sign in Thailand last week pic.twitter.com/kkyXXFgjiL

— Anoo Bhuyan (@AnooBhu) November 19, 2022

A third commented: “There is an unspoken rule in Singapore; do not use swimming pools and elevators after eating durian. A fourth added: “Very unique fruit. Its smell is close to rotten onion.

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Meanwhile, in addition to doing typical tourist things, Gita Gopinath on her trip also met officials and the IMF team in Singapore. She met with Chief Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Managing Director of the Monetary Authority of Singapore Ravi Menon and other members of the IMF team.

Many good meetings in Singapore, with the Prime Minister @Tharman_SMD of the Monetary Authority of Singapore @MAS_sg Ravi Menon, &especially meeting the IMF team in Singapore. The IMF’s Singapore Training Institute is the regional training center for the Asia and Pacific region. pic.twitter.com/6lRLR2Icjw

—Gita Gopinath (@GitaGopinath) November 20, 2022

Gita Gopinath served as the IMF’s Chief Economist between 2019 and 2022. Earlier this year, Ms. Gopinath assumed the role of the IMF’s First Deputy Managing Director (FDMD).

Prior to her career at the IMF, Ms. Gopinath held the John Zwaanstra Professorship in International Studies and Economics in the Economics Department of Harvard University (2005-22).