Robert Kuok is a Malaysian businessman of Chinese descent who founded the Kuok Group, beginning as a commodities trading firm in 1949 built on rice, sugar and flour trading that expanded across Southeast Asia in the years after Malaysian independence. He became widely known as Asia's Sugar King after his companies came to control a substantial share of the world's raw sugar trade, and he later diversified into shipping, property and hospitality, founding the Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts chain in 1971. Long regarded as one of the wealthiest and most influential ethnic Chinese business figures in Southeast Asia, he has continued to expand his interests in mainland China and Hong Kong through later decades of his career.
Facts
BirthplaceJohor Bahru, Johor, Unfederated Malay States, British Malaya (now Malaysia) 1 Defining ContributionFounder and chairman of Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts 1 Notable WorkShangri-La Hotels and Resorts 1 Connections
Associated With
Robert Kuok built his conglomerate around shipping, sugar trading and commodities, including founding Pacific Carriers Limited.
In the Other Atlases
- Also in Geography Atlas: Malaysia, nationality there.
Sources
1. Robert Kuok - Wikipedia
Infobox, Born line
Kuok Hock Nien (1923-10-06) 6 October 1923 (age 102) Johor Bahru, Johor, Unfederated Malay States, British Malaya (now Malaysia)
Introduction, short description
Malaysian billionaire business magnate (born 1923)
Infobox, Known for field
Founder and chairman of Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts
Career section, early business subsection
at one time controlling 80% of the Malaysian sugar market with production of 1.5 million tonnes, equivalent to 10% of world production, earning himself the nickname 'Sugar King of Asia'
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