ENTREPRENEURIAL TRAITS

NETWORKED

In Malaysia, as example, Tan Sri Robert Kuok Hock Nien is a successful entrepreneur in Malaysia. He was born on October 6, 1923 in Johor Bharu. He is an entrepreneur who is Chinese and now residing in Hong Kong. He was the richest man in Malaysia. He have a variety of businesses and a lot of investment in many Asian countries. Among his businesses include sugar cane cultivation in Perlis (Perlis Plantation Bhd.), sugar refining, flour milling, animal feed, oil and mining, finance, real estate, hotels, trade and transport and publishing.

Robert Kuok took over his father's business, name Keng Kang in 1949. His father held a good relationship with the Sultan of Johor up to get a license to do business and sell basic necessities such as rice, sugar and flour and also supply goods to 5000 Japanese prisoners of war to the Government British. From the experience gained, he has encouraged close ties to emulate his father by the Johor Malay leaders. This enabled him to expand business networks are built.

After independence, he founded the Malaysian Sugar Manufacturing Company and forge links with Mitsui Bussan Kaisha Lt and Nissin Sugar Manufacturing. It’s got a wide range of amenities and is granted monopoly status from the government. He also opened the country's first sugar cane fields of Perlis Plantation on government-owned land with the help of Felda. He has opened up a factory in Malaysia and Indonesia to meet the high demand for sugar.

Managing also received cooperation from the authorities such as the Armed Forces Fund Board and the National Trust which enabled him to maintain contact with the highest levels of government. With a good network of relations with the government have prompted the government to ask for help from Robert Kuok to set up the Malaysia-Singapore Airlines (MSA). He is also involved with the establishment of Bank Bumiputera Bhd and Perbadanan Nasional Bhd to attract Malay participation in the economy.

He also established Kerry Trading Company by stepping into the field of media and real estate. His company have a network of about 10 company public issue of Hong Kong, including south China Morning Post, as well as English-language newspaper. He also took over TVE Holdings involved in the field of real estate, entertainment, retail and publishing. He expanded his business network up to Hong Kong and China, covering various branches of business. He was the first person in Asia to have successfully established a network of five-star Shangri-La Hotel.

Currently, there are 72 hotels Shangri-La in the world. In conclusion, it is apparent Tan Sri Robert Kuok is a smart person in expanding its business network over time. He managed to establish good relations and strong business network run by entrepreneurs such as successful entrepreneurs in Asia such as Lim Sioe Liong, Datuk Tan Chin Nam, Tan Sri Khoo Kay Peng, Run Run Shaw and others. He also emphasizes the close relationship and cooperation with Asian countries. This proves that the characteristics of the network in the business can provide many benefits to an entrepreneur.