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Robert KuokMalaysian entrepreneur
Date of Birth: 06.10.1923
Country:  Hong Kong |
Content:
- Biography of Robert Kuok
- Business Ventures
- Early Life and Career
- Expansion and Success
- Political Influence
- Personal Life
Biography of Robert Kuok
Robert Kuok is a Malaysian entrepreneur of Chinese descent. According to Forbes magazine, as of February 2012, he was worth around $14.7 billion, making him the richest person in Malaysia and the second richest in Southeast Asia, after Dhanin Chearavanont of Thailand. In 2013, Kuok was ranked 76th on the list of the world's richest people.
Business Ventures
Kuok prefers to stay away from the media and does not disclose much about his personal or business life. Most of his enterprises are either managed by him or his relatives. While a significant portion of Kuok's projects operate in Malaysia, he also has businesses in other Asian countries. His interests span across various industries, including oil, hotels, real estate, media, trade, logistics, sugar, and animal feed. The main source of income for Kuok is his company, Wilmar International, which is the world's largest palm oil producer.
Early Life and Career
Robert Kuok's father immigrated to Malaysia from China. Robert himself started from humble beginnings, working as a delivery boy before starting his own business with the support of his family. From 1942 to 1945, he worked for the Japanese company Mitsubishi. In 1948, Kuok's father passed away, and he and his brothers decided to take over the family business. They founded Kuok Brothers Sdn Bhd in 1949, with a focus on agriculture. Kuok soon ventured into sugar production, securing government support and seizing the opportunity to purchase a cheap batch of Indian sugar in 1961, which greatly contributed to his wealth. Over time, he acquired about 80% of Malaysia's sugar production.
Expansion and Success
Not satisfied with being known as the "Sugar King of Asia," Kuok diversified his interests. In 1971, he entered the hotel industry and built his first hotel, Shangri-La, in Singapore. In 1977, he entered the real estate market and later built another hotel on the purchased land. In 1993, one of Kuok's companies acquired a 34.9% stake in the South China Morning Post newspaper. On October 31, 2009, Kuok announced his departure from the sugar business, selling it to FELDA, the second most profitable part of his company. Currently, Robert Kuok is actively involved in business activities in Singapore, Thailand, China, Indonesia, Fiji, and Australia. Notably, he owns ten companies that supply bottles to Coca-Cola and the Beijing World Trade Centre.
Political Influence
Kuok's commercial success has also earned him significant political influence. He is currently one of the key analysts and consultants in Hong Kong and participates in Malaysia-China negotiations.
Personal Life
Robert Kuok has been married twice and has eight children – seven sons and one daughter. Most of his current business affairs are in the hands of one of his sons. He currently resides in Hong Kong.
