Middle East Economic Survey

VOL. XLVII

No 41

11-October-2004

SYRIA

Rifai Replaced As Syrias Economy Minister In Cabinet Reshuffle

Ghassan al-Rifai, who had served as Syrias Minister of Economy and Foreign Trade since December 2001, was dropped from the cabinet in a reshuffle announced by President Bashar al-Asad on 4 October. Before his appointment as a minister, Mr Rifai had worked for almost 30 years with the World Bank, and his inclusion in the cabinet was seen as a reflection of President Asads...