Ghassan Al Rifai

Ghassan Al Rıfai (Arabic: غسان الرفاعي; born 1942) is a Syrian economist who worked at the World Bank and served as Syria's minister of economy and trade from December 2001 to October 2004.

Ghassan Al Rifai
Minister of Economy and Trade
In office
December 2001 – October 2004
PresidentBashar al-Assad
Prime MinisterMuhammad Mustafa Mero
Mohammad Naji Al Otari
Preceded byMohammed Al Imadi
Personal details
Born
Ghassan Sami bin Hassan Jandal Al Rifai

1942 (age 80–81)
Homs
Political partyIndependent
Alma materCairo University
American University of Cairo

Early life and education

Al Rıfai was born in Homs in 1942.[1] He received a bachelor's degree in business administration from Cairo University.[2] He obtained a master's degree from American University of Cairo.[2] He also holds a PhD in business management and finance, which he received from Sussex College of Technology.[3]

Career

Al Rıfai joined the World Bank in 1972 through the Young Professionals Program. In 1973, he moved to the Country Programs Department of the Europe, Middle East and North Africa Region. He remained in that region until December 1998. During this period, he held several senior managerial positions overseeing strategy formulation, operations, technical assistance, and investment promotion. He was also seconded in 1977 to the Abu Dhabi Fund for Arab Economic Development for a period of four months as Senior Adviser to assist in its reorganization and to provide policy advice to the UAE Government. In December 1988, he was promoted to vice president, Policy and Advisory Services of the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), an affiliate of the World Bank, where he was instrumental in the formation and further development of this agency. In June 1993, he was appointed director, Resource Mobilization and Private Sector Development for the Europe and Central Asia Region in the World Bank, overseeing and promoting a large number of investment projects in several countries in Europe and Central Asia. In July 1997, he was appointed principal adviser, Sector Policies and Products for the Middle East and North Africa Region and then, principal adviser for Regional Strategy and Sectoral Policies.

Then he was appointed minister of economy and foreign trade in December 2001 in a cabinet reshuffle, replacing Mohammed Al Imadi.[4][5] The cabinet was headed by Prime Minister Mohammed Mustafa Mero.[6][7] In September 2003, Mero was replaced by Mohammed Naji Al Otari, but Al Rıfai continued to serve in his post.[6] Furthermore, his portfolio was expanded to include domestic trade and supply.[6] His term lasted until October 2004.[8]

References
  1. Eyal Zisser (June 2004). "Bashar al-Asad and his Regime- Between Continuity and Change". Orient. 45 (2): 239–256.
  2. "Biography for Ghassan Sami bin Hassan Jandal Al Rifai". Silobreaker. Archived from the original on 26 August 2013. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
  3. Shmuel Bar (2006). "Bashar's Syria: The Regime and its Strategic Worldview". Comparative Strategy. 25 (5). doi:10.1080/01495930601105412.
  4. Sami Moubayed (20–26 December 2001). "Ushering in the new". Al Ahram Weekly. 565. Archived from the original on 24 March 2013.
  5. "Assad Launches Major Cabinet Reshuffle". Middle East Intelligence Bulletin. 3 (11). November 2001.
  6. "Syria's PM appoints new cabinet". BBC. 18 September 2003. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
  7. Raymond Hinnebusch (2011). "The Ba'th Party in Post-Ba'thist Syria: President, Party and the Struggle for 'Reform'". Middle East Critique. 20 (2): 109–125. doi:10.1080/19436149.2011.572408. S2CID 144573563.
  8. Nicholas Blanford (6 October 2004). "Questions remain after Syrian Cabinet reshuffle". The Daily Star. Beirut. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
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