Early Life
Kuok Khoon Hong was born in 1949 in Mersing, Johor, Malaysia. He is a nephew of Robert Kuok, the Malaysian-Chinese billionaire behind the Shangri-La hotel empire. Kuok received his early education in Malaysia and later pursued a Bachelor of Business Administration degree at the National University of Singapore, which he earned in 1973.
Rise to Success
Kuok's career began in the commodities trading sector at Kuok Oils and Grains. He gained experience in the grains, edible oils, and oilseeds businesses. In 1991, he co-founded Wilmar International with Chinese Indonesian businessman Martua Sitorus, starting with seed capital of S$2 million. Wilmar quickly grew, expanding across Asia with palm oil plantations and refineries. He led major developments, including the Pasir Gudang edible oil refining complex in Johor and China's first edible oil refinery. Today, Wilmar has a significant presence worldwide, with over 1,000 manufacturing plants and around 100,000 employees.
Key Business Strategies
Kuok's strategic vision has been key to Wilmar's success. He focused on an integrated agribusiness model, encompassing the entire value chain. This model includes oil palm cultivation, edible oils refining, oilseed crushing, and the manufacturing of various food and industrial products. He has also emphasized sustainability and traceability within Wilmar's operations. Kuok continues to focus on Wilmar's competitive edge in the global market and explores new business developments.
Philanthropy
Kuok is actively involved in philanthropy. In 2020, Wilmar contributed $7 million to The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund. He has also established scholarships and bursaries at several universities. In addition, Kuok has supported the building of schools in Indonesia and elderly care facilities in China.