Robert Kuok, 100 years, is currently the richest man in Malaysia with a net worth of $11.8 billion. On 6th October, 2023 Robert Kuok turned 100 years old.
He is a Malaysian businessman, investor and philanthropist. He has lived in Hong Kong since 1973.
Robert is the founder and Chairman of Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts.
He owns several businesses in Malaysia all operating under Kuok Group of companies. The group employs a total of 90,000 people.
- Sugarcane Plantations
- Freight – Kerry Logistics
- Sugar Refineries
- Trading
- Flour milling
- Publishing
- Animal feeds
- Property
- Oil
- Hotel
- Finance
- Mining
Robert’s largest source of wealth is Wilmar International which trades in palm oil. Kuok Group of companies owns a 34.16 percent stake in Wilmar International Ltd. The company was established in 1991 and now engages in cultivation of oil palm, crushing oil seeds, refining edible oils, sugar milling and refinery, specialty fats, fertilisers, biodiesel, rice and flour milling. The company owns of the largest oil palm plantation in the world.
Wilmar International owns 500 manufacturing plants, large scale distribution networking covering China, Indonesia, India and 50 other countries.
Robert Kuok was the founder of Kuok Brothers Sdn Bhd in 1949 with a focus on trading on agricultural commodities.
In 1959, Robert Kuok established Malayan sugar manufacturing and in 1961 he started importing cheap sugar from India. He also invested a lot on sugar refineries. That is how he earned his nickname “sugar king”. He produces raw sugar, molasses and bagasse.
In 1971, he constructed his first hotel in Singapore, Shangri-la Hotel.
In 1977, he started investing in Hong Kong real estate. The group of companies now own Kerry Parkside, Beijing Kerry Centre, Shenzen Kerry Plaza, Jing an Kerry Centre, office, commercial properties among others.
The group owns La Montagne and La Marina residential properties in Hong Kong,
In 1993, Kerry Group acquired a 34.9 per cent stake in South China Morning Post from News Corp.
He officially retired on 1 April 1993. His companies have investments in Australia, Fiji, Philippines, China, Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand.
In China, Robert Kuok owns 10 Coca Cola bottling factories and owns Beijing World Trade Centre.
Logistics and Transport businesses
Robert Kuok owns a fleet of ships such as tankers, Malaysian Bulk Carriers Berhad and Transmile Group with a capacity 2.6 million tonnes. This is part of Kerry Logistics Network Ltd. The company has operations in 59 countries worldwide. The group owns more than 10,000 vehicles to facilitate business logistics. In 1999, the group opened, Kerry Cargo Centre
Kerry Wines
Kerry Wines Limited was established in 2010 to improve access to quality wines in Asia and around the world.
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