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.