The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) recently announced its new President. T. Raja Kumar, who is a citizen of Singapore but of Indian origin is this new President of the FATF. Upon becoming President, Raja Kumar quickly put forth his agenda against terrorism and money laundering. But this promising leader is highly underrated. He has rarely appeared in international news. Moreover, the common man has only heard his name for the first time. So, who is T. Raja Kumar? Why is him becoming President of the FATF so significant?

T. Raja Kumar – Bio – Wiki – All Details

T. Raja Kumar takes his oath as President of the FATF
  • Raja Kumar graduated from the National University of Singapore with a BA LLB degree.
  • He went on to complete his postgraduate M.Phil degree from Cambridge University in Criminology and Law.
  • Moreover, he is also a member of the Advanced Management Program at Harvard University since 2006.
  • He served in the Singapore Police Force (SPF) for more than 35 years.
  • Kumar has also assisted the Singapore Ministry of Home Affairs during his tenure at the SPF.
  • Other details about his age and personal life have not been disclosed but will be updated here once available.

T. Raja Kumar – Career in FATF

T. Raja Kumar attending events as a member of FATF since 1992

The FATF was established by the G7 Committee in 1989 summit. Its main aim was to combat money laundering, terrorism, and proliferation finance at the global level. The FATF is also responsible for reviewing the jurisdictions of the G7 member countries. While Kumar’s presidency may be recent at the FATF, he has been a member since 1992. He began his career in the Singapore Police Force but later became a senior advisor at the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) of Singapore in 2015. In the same here, he led Singapore’s efforts to meet FATF standards. In this role, he was the incumbent in the position of Co-Chairman of the National Interagency Committee. Moreover, in 2018, he made his way into the steering group of the FATF. This steering group is a group of advisors to the President of the FATF. It is here that Raja Kumar began developing important connections.

Why is this significant?

T. Raja Kumar at the Ministry of Home Affairs of Singapore

The presidency of T. Raja Kumar at the FATF is significant for two reasons. It is significant for Singapore as well as for India. Firstly, Kumar enacted his agenda for 2022 to 2024 to combat the issues of money laundering globally. Singapore has often been hailed as the hub of money laundering from other South Asian countries. Hence, this step was crucial for Singapore’s part in the FATF. Secondly, being of Indian origin, Kumar’s presidency is another feather in the nation’s cap. Beginning with Sundar Pichai and Satya Nadella, T. Raja Kumar is yet another example of Indian prowess in the global arena.

Takeaway

Just like Kumar, there are many other Indians who have made it big internationally. For example, renowned Bollywood actor Priyanka Chopra, Formula 2 racer Jehan Daruvala, Javelin athlete and Olympian Neeraj Chopra, Olympic Hockey winner Hardik Singh, among many others. The best part is, you can read all about them right here on CelebsPride. Do let us know in the comments what you think about them, and who would you like to read about next!