Hassen Belkhodja
Encyclopedia
Hassen Belkhodja, also known as Hassan Belkhodja, born March 10, 1916 in Ras Jebel
, died November 29, 1981, was a Tunisia
n politician and businessman.
He took his secondary education at Lycée Carnot de Tunis before going to study at the faculté de droit de Paris where he obtained his licence
and then doctorate
in 1950.
In his youth, he took part in the militant movement for Tunisian independence. He was a member of the Néo-Destour delegation to Paris
and president of the Association des étudiants nord-africains de France, which led to him being part of the Tunisian delegation in Tuniso-French negotiations from 1954 and then represented his country as ambassador in Paris, and then, from 1957, in Madrid
.
In 1959, he left diplomacy
for the business world. He was founder and PDG of the Banque nationale de Tunisie
, founder of the Société tunisienne de l'industrie laitière, PDG of the Société nationale immobilière de Tunisie then the Office of Commerce, founder of Nestlé Tunisie
before becoming in 1971 the head of the Société tunisienne de banque
(STB).
This career was interspersed with his ministerial responsibilities: he became minister for industry and commerce on September 8, 1969, of agriculture on September 25, 1974, of transport and telecommunication on November 7, 1979, and of Minister of Foreign Affairs of Tunisia on April 15, 1980. In 1981, a few months before his death, he left the government and returned to the presidency of the STB. In 1971, he became president of the football club Espérance Sportive de Tunis, a position he held until his death.
Married with four children, Hassen Belkhodja was elected to the political bureau of the Socialist Destourian Party
in 1964, and became an MP in 1971. He was promoted in 1974 to ambassador
of Tunisia. He was also decorated with the grand cordon of the order of Independence and the grand cordon of the order of the Republic.
Ras Jebel
Ras Jebel is a town and commune in the Bizerte Governorate, Tunisia. As of 2004 it had a population of 25,553....
, died November 29, 1981, was a Tunisia
Tunisia
Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
n politician and businessman.
He took his secondary education at Lycée Carnot de Tunis before going to study at the faculté de droit de Paris where he obtained his licence
Licentiate
Licentiate is the title of a person who holds an academic degree called a licence. The term may derive from the Latin licentia docendi, meaning permission to teach. The term may also derive from the Latin licentia ad practicandum, which signified someone who held a certificate of competence to...
and then doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
in 1950.
In his youth, he took part in the militant movement for Tunisian independence. He was a member of the Néo-Destour delegation to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
and president of the Association des étudiants nord-africains de France, which led to him being part of the Tunisian delegation in Tuniso-French negotiations from 1954 and then represented his country as ambassador in Paris, and then, from 1957, in Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
.
In 1959, he left diplomacy
Diplomacy
Diplomacy is the art and practice of conducting negotiations between representatives of groups or states...
for the business world. He was founder and PDG of the Banque nationale de Tunisie
Banque Nationale Agricole
Banque Nationale Agricole is a state-controlled bank in Tunisia. It is listed in the Bourse de Tunis.-History:The Banque Nationale Agricole was created on 1 June 1959, and launched by President Habib Bourguiba on 10 October 1959. In 1969, it changed its name to Banque Nationale de Tunisie...
, founder of the Société tunisienne de l'industrie laitière, PDG of the Société nationale immobilière de Tunisie then the Office of Commerce, founder of Nestlé Tunisie
Nestlé
Nestlé S.A. is the world's largest food and nutrition company. Founded and headquartered in Vevey, Switzerland, Nestlé originated in a 1905 merger of the Anglo-Swiss Milk Company, established in 1867 by brothers George Page and Charles Page, and Farine Lactée Henri Nestlé, founded in 1866 by Henri...
before becoming in 1971 the head of the Société tunisienne de banque
Société Tunisienne de Banque
Société Tunisienne de Banque is a state-controlled bank in Tunisia. It is listed in the Bourse de Tunis. It has 124,300 million dinars in assets.-Overview:Société Tunisienne de Banque was founded in 1958. It is headquartered in Tunis, Tunisia....
(STB).
This career was interspersed with his ministerial responsibilities: he became minister for industry and commerce on September 8, 1969, of agriculture on September 25, 1974, of transport and telecommunication on November 7, 1979, and of Minister of Foreign Affairs of Tunisia on April 15, 1980. In 1981, a few months before his death, he left the government and returned to the presidency of the STB. In 1971, he became president of the football club Espérance Sportive de Tunis, a position he held until his death.
Married with four children, Hassen Belkhodja was elected to the political bureau of the Socialist Destourian Party
Socialist Destourian Party
The Socialist Destourian Party was the ruling political party of Tunisia from 1964 to 1988. Bahi Ladgham was the first Prime Minister from the party and Hédi Baccouche was the last. It was founded on October 22, 1964 and disbanded on February 27, 1988. Habib Bourgiba was the first president of the...
in 1964, and became an MP in 1971. He was promoted in 1974 to ambassador
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
of Tunisia. He was also decorated with the grand cordon of the order of Independence and the grand cordon of the order of the Republic.