Early Life
Liu Yonghao was born in 1951 in Xinjin District, China. He started his career as a teacher at a technical school. In 1982, he and his three brothers made a pivotal decision to leave their government jobs and embark on an entrepreneurial journey. They pooled their resources, selling personal items to raise initial capital, and began raising quails and chickens to sell to local farmers in Sichuan province.
Rise to Success
The Liu brothers' venture into poultry farming proved successful, leading them to establish the Hope Group in 1992. The Hope Group quickly became a leading player in the animal feed business, expanding rapidly to become one of the largest non-government conglomerates in China. In 1996, the brothers divided their business, and Liu Yonghao renamed his portion New Hope Group, which then became a dominant force in China's agricultural sector. He also played a role in founding China Minsheng Bank, where he later became a major shareholder.
Key Business Strategies
Liu Yonghao's business philosophy centers on innovation, long-term vision, and social responsibility. He emphasizes the use of technology to modernize agriculture and advocates for sustainable development. The New Hope Group has diversified interests including agribusiness, dairy, fast foods, real estate, and chemicals. Liu also focused on establishing agricultural co-operatives to support farmers in industrializing their plots. Liu Yonghao is known for his humility and commitment to his roots, often referring to himself as "an old farmer".
Philanthropy
Liu Yonghao and New Hope Group have been actively involved in philanthropy, particularly in education and rural development. The Sichuan Yonghao Charity Foundation, founded in 2018, implements projects supporting China's Rural Revitalization Strategy. The foundation supports initiatives focused on education, rural talent cultivation, and disaster relief.