Liem richest in S.E. Asia

Liem richest in S.E. Asia

HONG KONG (AFP): Indonesia's business magnate Liem Sioe Liong,
with an estimated US$3 billion in net assets, is the richest
ethnic Chinese in southeast Asia, Hong Kong-based Asiaweek said.

The Indonesian cement, food, banking and trading magnate Liem,
72, pipped 19 other billionaires, including three other
Indonesians, six Thais, four Malaysians, three Filipinos and
three Singaporeans, the weekly magazine said Friday.

The second richest was compatriot Eka Tjipta Widjaja, 72, with
assets of $2.7 billion, built around the Sinar Mas paper and
timber group.

Thailand's Dhanin Chearavanont, 55, of Charoen Pokphand group,
is ranked third with assets of $2.6 billion, followed by Prajogo
Pangestu, 53, of Indonesia and Chatri Sophonpanich, 60, of
Thailand, with assets of $2.5 billion and $2.4 billion
respectively.

Of the 20 billionaires listed, six were born in China and the
rest are of Chinese descent.