Ghassan Al Rifai Explained

Birthname:Ghassan Sami bin Hassan Jandal Al Rifai
Office:Minister of Economy and Trade
Primeminister:Muhammad Mustafa Mero
Mohammad Naji Al Otari
President:Bashar al-Assad
Term Start:December 2001
Term End:October 2004
Predecessor:Mohammed Al Imadi
Successor:Amer Husni Lutfi
Birth Place:Homs
Party:Independent

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.

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, and he was succeeded by Amer Husni Lutfi in the post.[8]

Notes and References

  1. Eyal Zisser. Bashar al-Asad and his Regime- Between Continuity and Change. Orient. June 2004. 45. 2. 239–256.
  2. Web site: Biography for Ghassan Sami bin Hassan Jandal Al Rifai. Silobreaker. 24 February 2013. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20130826064929/http://news.silobreaker.com/biography-for-ghassan-sami-bin-hassan-jandal-al-rifai-5_2256915668030980096_4. 26 August 2013.
  3. Shmuel Bar. Bashar's Syria: The Regime and its Strategic Worldview. Comparative Strategy. 2006. 25. 5. 353–445 . 10.1080/01495930601105412. 154739379 .
  4. Sami Moubayed. Ushering in the new. Al Ahram Weekly. 20–26 December 2001. 565. dead. 24 March 2013. Sami Moubayed. https://web.archive.org/web/20130324155957/http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2001/565/re6.htm.
  5. Assad Launches Major Cabinet Reshuffle. Middle East Intelligence Bulletin. November 2001. 3. 11.
  6. News: Syria's PM appoints new cabinet. 24 February 2013. BBC. 18 September 2003.
  7. Raymond Hinnebusch. The Ba'th Party in Post-Ba'thist Syria: President, Party and the Struggle for 'Reform'. Middle East Critique. 2011. 20. 2. 109–125. 10.1080/19436149.2011.572408. 144573563.
  8. News: Gobierno sirio reestructura gabinete. 4 December 2023. United Press International. 4 October 2004. Damascus. es.