Saeb N. Jaroudi (Arabic: صائب جارودي) was the former minister of national economy, industry, and tourism in Lebanon[1][2][3] and the first chairman of the board and president of the Kuwait-based Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development. He held a number of leadership roles in the Arab world, Europe, and the United States throughout his career.[4][5]

Saeb N. Jaroudi
Born
Saeb Nadim Jaroudi

(1929-11-25)November 25, 1929
DiedSeptember 14, 2014(2014-09-14) (aged 84)
NationalityLebanese
Alma materColumbia University
University of California, Berkeley
Occupation(s)Minister, Banker, Economist
SpouseSuad Tawfiq Abul-Huda (Married 1955, Divorced 1955) Leila Salaam (married 1964)
Children2

Background and education

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Jaroudi was born into a prominent family from Beirut, Lebanon. He graduated high school from International College, Beirut in 1947[6] after which he went to study in the United States where he earned Bachelor's and Master's degrees at the University of California, Berkeley[7] and completed his PhD studies at Columbia University.[8]

Career

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Early Start in Academia

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Jaroudi began his professional experience teaching economics at the American University of Beirut,[8][9] where he also participated in the pioneering work of the Economic Research Institute on economic development and business legislation in the Middle East.

United Nations Development Programme

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His strong United Nations ties began when he joined the UN’s Center for Development Planning in New York as a senior economist.[10] During a decade-long UN career, he assisted in the establishment and implementation of several Arab countries’ national development plans.[11] He also assisted the Kuwaiti government in establishing the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development[12] and driving its operations during its early years.

Minister of National Economy, Industry, and Tourism

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From 1970 to 1972, Jaroudi was minister of national economy, industry, and tourism in Saeb Salam's first cabinet during President Suleiman Frangieh's mandate,[13] He introduced policies that successfully stimulated the development of lesser developed regions of the country, encouraged the flow of foreign direct investment into the country and increased exports through bilateral trade agreements. To promote investment in Lebanon’s industrial sector, he developed and led a pioneering matchmaking program with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), which culminated in the signing of 20 new joint venture projects between Lebanese and foreign investors.[14]

Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development

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In 1972, he was elected as the first chairman of the board and president of the Kuwait-based Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development[15] by the Arab Ministers of Finance. He established the Fund as the regional development bank of the Arab world, initiating and financing major national and inter-country industrial, agriculture, rural development, power, water, education, and healthcare projects.[16][17] During his tenure, he also initiated the establishment of the Arab Monetary Fund and the Arab Authority for Agricultural Investment and Development.[17]

Later career

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In his later years, Jaroudi served as a senior economic consultant advising international public and private institutions on economic policy and project finance. He served on several boards at LGB Bank,[18] Arab Finance Corporation,[19] The Arab British Centre[20] and the British Lebanese Association,[20] He also served as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Arab British Chamber of Commerce Foundation,[21] and International College, Beirut.[6]

Honors and recognition

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In recognition of his contributions to the economic and social advancement of developing countries, Jaroudi was elected as a member of the United Nations Committee for Development Policy[22] and UNESCO’s International Fund for the Promotion of Culture.[23] He was also an elected fellow of The Royal Numismatic Society (RNS),[24] a learned society and charity based in London, United Kingdom whose patron as of 2014 was Queen Elizabeth II.

On September 18, 2014, upon the request of the Lebanese Prime Minister Tammam Salam, he was honored by a minute of silence by the Lebanese Council of Ministers at the start of the cabinet meeting.[25]

References

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  1. ^ "Family-run businesses urged to transform". Gulf News. 6 November 2004.
  2. ^ "Corporate structure transformation key to regional development, says former Lebanon Minister" Archived 2012-10-10 at the Wayback Machine. AMEinfo.com. 1 November 2004.
  3. ^ "Global Brands Unite In Support Of Leaders In Dubai". Zawya.com. 11 October 2005.
  4. ^ World Who's Who
  5. ^ "Opportunity knocks in the choosing of a new prime minister" Archived 2012-10-07 at the Wayback Machine Daily Star. 21 October 2004.
  6. ^ a b Jaroudi, Saeb (Spring 2015). "In memory of Dr. Saeb Jaroudi '47, Former Minister and IC Trustee" (PDF). IC Newsletter. Spring 2015: 27.
  7. ^ Jaroudi, Saeb N. (1950). The income tax of Lebanon and possible improvements.
  8. ^ a b Directory of AUB Faculty Members, Staff Members, and Officers Archived 2011-09-27 at the Wayback Machine
  9. ^ Dr. Yusuf Shibl. "On Past Presidents and Football Stratagems: Fifty Years of Memories at AUB" Archived 2016-07-31 at the Wayback Machine. Maingate Magazine. Spring 2007 Vol. V, No. 3.
  10. ^ United Nations Treaty Series, Agreement between the UNDP and the Arab Fund on "Programme for the Identification and Preparation of Feasibility Studies and Investment Projects"
  11. ^ United Nations Treaty Series, Agreement Revising and Renewing the International Wheat Agreement
  12. ^ Demir, Soliman; United Nations Institute for Training and Research (1979). Arab development funds in the Middle East. Pergamon Press. p. 43. ISBN 9780080224893.
  13. ^ Doctor Emile Bitar, Lebanon Youth Government
  14. ^ United Nations Treaty Series, Agreement between the US and Lebanese Governments for sales of Agricultural Commodities
  15. ^ Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development
  16. ^ John Lawton. "Arab Aid Who Gives it" Saudi Aramco World. Volume 30, Number 6.
  17. ^ a b Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development Annual Report 1977
  18. ^ LGB Bank Annual Report 2013
  19. ^ "Arab Finance Corporation Directors and Management". Archived from the original on 2017-04-03. Retrieved 2011-03-25.
  20. ^ a b Company information, UK Government Official Site "Find and Update Information"
  21. ^ The Arab-British Chamber of Commerce Charitable Foundation Archived 2011-09-03 at the Wayback Machine
  22. ^ Members of the United Nations Committee for Development Policy (1966-2012)
  23. ^ UNESCO International Fund for the Promotion of Culture Administrative Council, Second Extraordinary Session Report
  24. ^ A History of The Royal Numismatic Society
  25. ^ ِAnnahar newspaper 18 September 2014