JEDDAH: Saudi businessman, economist, investor, thinker and columnist Sheikh Wahib Binzagr passed away in Brazil on Wednesday after a long illness. He was taking treatment in Brazil when he breathed his last. He was 75.

Born to a family of merchants in Jeddah in 1934, Binzagr had his education in Jeddah, Cairo and Britain where he obtained a master's degree in economics in 1957. He studied at the prestigious Victoria College in Alexandria. He later went to the British University of Durham.

On return home, Binzagr held a number of positions in both the public and private sectors. He was the mayor of Jeddah in 1966. He was also a member of the board of directors of the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry for 16 years, deputy chairman of the economic department for Makkah Governorate and member of the historic committee for Jeddah.

He was a founding member of King Abdul Aziz University in Jeddah. He was also the chairman of the board of directors of the Saudi Cairo Bank, the Saudi Industrial Development Company and the Binzagr Commercial House, which was established by his father Sheikh Muhammad Obaid Binzagr 125 years ago.

The body of Binzagr will be buried on its arrival from Brazil in the next few days.