Aung_Ko_Win

Aung Ko Win

Aung Ko Win

Burmese businessman

This article is about the Myanmar businessman. For the Myanmar politician, see Aung Ko (politician).

Tharay Sithu Aung Ko Win (Burmese: အောင်ကိုဝင်း; also known as Saya Kyaung) is a Burmese business tycoon and former school teacher. He owns several businesses in Myanmar under the Kanbawza (KBZ) brand in the finance, agriculture, aviation, manufacturing and tourism sectors.

In this Burmese name, the given name is Aung Ko Win. There is no family name.
Quick Facts Thray Sithu, Born ...

Education

He graduated with BSc in Chemistry from Mandalay University.

Career

Aung Ko Win was a teacher, then he switched to tutoring before going into trading and mining. He has close connections to General Maung Aye, the second in command of the former military junta, the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC).[1] While Maung Aye was a commander in jade-mining region of Shan State, Maung Aye offered Aung Ko Win jade and gem mining concessions.[2]

His trading and mining business prospered, and two years later, he bought the banking operation. Then he moved KBZ and his family to Yangon in the late 1990s, when there were only 4 branches. Now there are 485, and KBZ expects to reach 500 by the end of 2017.[3]

He has also served as the chairman of the Myanmar Jades, Gems & Jewellery Entrepreneurs, Republic of The Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce & Industry (UMFCCI), Myanmar Football Federation, Myanmar Anti-Narcotics Association and Border Area Development Association, Myanmar.

Personal life

He is married to Nang Than Htwe,[4] the niece of Win Myint, a former State Peace and Development Council official.[1] He has 3 daughters.[4][5] His wife is Deputy Chairman of KBZ, while his daughters serve as directors within the company.[6] Two daughters are Deputy CEOs of KBZ Bank.[7] His brother-in-law, Major-General Zaw Myint Naing was appointed vice-governor of the Central Bank of Myanmar in August 2022.[8]

Awards and honours

Awards

On 4 January 2021, the President of Myanmar awarded him the country's highest medal of honour and title "Tharay Sithu" in the category of "Pyidaungsu Sithu Thingaha" (Order of the Union of Myanmar).[citation needed]

Aung Ko Win was awarded the "State Excellence Award" (2013, 2014, 2015) from the President of Myanmar for contributions to Myanmar and "Special Honorary State Excellence Award" 2014 and 2015 for the largest contribution to the Myanmar State Tax & Revenue Department and for community donations.[9][citation needed]

In 2015, Aung Ko Win accepted "The Banker of the Year Award" in Asia 2015 award at a ceremony held at the London Stock Exchange on 3 December.[10] In 2016, he accepted "The Banker Awards" (2016) ceremony held at the Hilton London Bankside Hotel in London on 7 December.[citation needed]

In 2017, he was awarded with the ASEAN's "The Legacy Award" conferred on him by the ASEAN Business Advisory Council-ABAC on 6 September in Manila, Philippines.[11][better source needed]

Honours

  • Tharay Sithu of the Pyidaungsu Sithu Thingaha Order of the Union of Myanmar[citation needed]

References

  1. [1]
    Aung Min; Toshihiro Kudo (2014). "Business Conglomerates in the Context of Myanmar's Economic Reform" (PDF). Myanmar's Integration with Global Economy: Outlook and Opportunities. Bangkok Research Report. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-09-24. Retrieved 11 July 2015.
  2. [2]
    Szep, Jason (13 April 2012). "Special Report: An image makeover for Myanmar Inc". Reuters. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
  3. [3]
    Gluckman, Ron (4 October 2017). "A Family Of Entrepreneurs Has Built KBZ Into a Finance Powerhouse In Myanmar". Forbes.
  4. [4]
    "Commission Regulation (EU) No 411/2010 of 10 May 2010 amending Council Regulation (EC) No 194/2008 renewing and strengthening the restrictive measures in respect of Burma/Myanmar". Official Journal of the European Union. European Commission. 10 May 2010. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
  5. [5]
    "Banking (Foreign Exchange) Regulations 1959 – Direction Relating to Foreign Currency Transactions and to Burma (18/10/2007)". Commonwealth of Australia. 18 Oct 2007. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
  6. [6]
    "Our Board of Directors". KBZ Group. Archived from the original on 16 July 2015. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
  7. [7]
    Gluckman, Ron. "A Family Of Entrepreneurs Has Built KBZ Into a Finance Powerhouse In Myanmar". Forbes. Retrieved 2020-11-02.
  8. [8]
    "Former General Named as Vice-Governor of Central Bank of Myanmar". The Irrawaddy. 2022-08-26. Retrieved 2022-08-26.
  9. [9]
    "Our Board of Directors for the KBZ Group of Companies is made up of the following members". KBZ Group. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
  10. [10]
    "KBZ Bank wins three best bank awards for 2015 from World Finance". Global New Light of Myanmar. 9 December 2015. Archived from the original on January 14, 2018. Retrieved 14 January 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  11. [11]
    "ASEAN "The Legacy Award" conferred on KBZ's Chairman". Global New Light of Myanmar. 8 September 2017. Archived from the original on January 14, 2018. Retrieved 14 January 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
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