Adnan Kassar
Adnan K*ar (Arabic: عدنان القصار; born 1930) is a Lebanese banker, businessman and politician, who served at different cabinet posts.
Contents
- 1 Early life and education
- 2 Career
- 3 Awards
- 4 Personal life
- 5 References
- 6 External links
Early life and education
K*ar was born into a Sunni family in Beirut in 1930. His father, Wafiq K*ar, was a prominent diplomat who served as the amb*ador of Lebanon in Pakistan and Turkey.
He received a law degree from St. Joseph University in 1951.
Career
In addition to being a businessman, he is a banker dealing finance investments. He has founded and owns various companies concerning trade, shipping and travel, and industry. He is one of the owners of the Banque Libano-Francaise together with Farid Raphael, his brother Nadim K*ar and Victor K*ir.
K*ar served as the president of the Beirut Chamber of Commerce and Industry for nearly thirty years to which he was elected in January 1972. In June 1997, he became the president of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture in Lebanon. From 1999 to 2000, he headed the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) based in Paris. On 1 January 2001, Richard D. McCormick, who served as his deputy at the ICC, succeeded K*ar as head of the ICC.
In January 2003, K*ar was appointed member of the patrons committee of the Anglo-Arab organisation. In addition, K*ar and his brother are shareholders of Fransabank, a large Lebanese commercial bank. As of 2013 K*ar was serving as the chairman of the bank. He was also chairman of the general union of Arab chambers of commerce, industry and agriculture and of Lebanon’s economic committees.
In October 2004, K*ar was appointed minister of economy and trade to the cabinet led by Prime Minister Omar Karami, replacing Marwan Hamadeh as economy minister. His tenure lasted until 2005 when Karami resigned from office due to the pressures exerted by Lebanese people as a protest over the **ination of Rafik Hariri. K*ar was succeeded by Demianos Khattah in the post. Later K*ar served as the minister of state in the cabinet led by Prime Minister Saad Hariri from November 2009 to 2011. K*ar was one of the cabinet members appointed by the Lebanese President Michel Suleiman.
K*ar has been regarded as a potential prime minister since the beginning of the 2000s.
Awards
- Officier de la Legion d'honneur (France)
- Officer, National Order of the Cedar (Lebanon)
- Officer, National Order of Merit (France)
- Knight Commander, Order of Merit (Italy)
K*ar has also been given other awards, including, Commander of the Order of La Pléiade and the prize of the Crans Montana Forum (2000).
Personal life
K*ar is married Raidaa Nathem Al Misqawi and has a daughter, Roula K*ar.