Robert Kuok

Robert Kuok began his working life as an office junior, and after he graduated he worked at Mitsubishi for three years in their rice trading division. After his father died in 1948, the three siblings founded their first company, Kuok Bros Sdn Bhd.Kuok Bros Sdn Bhd specialised in the sale of agricultural goods, and the first great success was in 1961 when Kuok bought large quantities of cheap sugar from India, just before the prices rocketed.In 1952, Robert traveled to England and observed the workings of the London Commodities Exchange, and when Malaysia gained its independence, he returned home in 1957 with a wealth of knowledge and experience which he used to expand the family business.Two years later, he founded the Malaysia Sugar Manufacturing which was Malaysia's very first sugar refinery. By the mid 60s Kuok had alliances with many other big sugar producers and refiners.