Issam Al Zaim

Issam Al Zaim (Arabic: عصام الزعيم) (4 August 1940 – 14 December 2007) was a Syrian economist and former minister of industry. He also served as minister of state planning.^[1]

Zaim was a researcher at the French National Centre for Scientific Research.^[1] Then Zaim held the post of minister of state for planning.^[1] He was appointed as minister of industry to the cabinet led by then prime minister Mohammad Mustafa Mero on 13 December 2001.^[2][3] His tenure ended in 2003 when the government resigned.^[1]

Zaim and his wife's assets were seized by Syrian authorities in 2003 as part of a probe into the alleged misuse of public funds by the couple.^[1] He and his wife were acquitted of all charges a few months later.^[1]

Zaim died of a heart attack at the age of 67 and was buried in Aleppo. He was survived by his wife and son.^[1]