Issam Al Zaim () (4 August 1940 – 14 December 2007) was a Syrian

economist An economist is a professional and practitioner in the social science discipline of economics. The individual may also study, develop, and apply theories and concepts from economics and write about economic policy. Within this field there are ...

and former minister of industry. He also served as minister of state planning.

Career

Zaim was a researcher at the

French National Centre for Scientific Research The French National Centre for Scientific Research (french: link=no, Centre national de la recherche scientifique, CNRS) is the French state research organisation and is the largest fundamental science agency in Europe. In 2016, it employed 31,63 ...

. Then Zaim held the post of minister of state for planning. He was appointed as minister of industry to the cabinet led by then prime minister Mohammad Mustafa Mero on 13 December 2001. His tenure ended in 2003 when the government resigned.

Controversy

Zaim and his wife's

asset In financial accounting, an asset is any resource owned or controlled by a business or an economic entity. It is anything (tangible or intangible) that can be used to produce positive economic value. Assets represent value of ownership that ca ...

s were seized by Syrian authorities in 2003 as part of a probe into the alleged misuse of public funds by the couple. He and his wife were acquitted of all charges a few months later.

Death

Zaim died of a

heart attack A myocardial infarction (MI), commonly known as a heart attack, occurs when blood flow decreases or stops to the coronary artery of the heart, causing damage to the heart muscle. The most common symptom is chest pain or discomfort which m ...

at the age of 67 and was buried in Aleppo. He was survived by his wife and son.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Zaim, Issam al- 1940 births 2007 deaths 20th-century Syrian economists Ministers of industry of Syria Ministers of state planning of Syria People from Aleppo Place of birth missing Place of death missing Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party – Syria Region politicians 21st-century Syrian economists