Time soon came to July. After getting tired of playing on the yacht, Chen Zhiwen also returned to Hong Kong land.
On this day, the Galaxy Group headquarters welcomed a mysterious guest.
"Guo Sheng, I have long admired you." Chen Zhiwen personally greeted the visitors at the downstairs door of the company. This kind of treatment was not available to Morita Shaofu when he came to Hong Kong.
"Chen Sheng, I am the one who has admired your name for a long time. My reputation is far from enough." The visitor laughed.
"Sheng Guo is being humble. Everyone in Southeast Asia knows the name of the World Sugar King." Chen Zhiwen said with a smile. The visitor was none other than Kuok Henian, the richest man in Malaysia and known as the World Sugar King.
"History is history after all. Now the era of us people has passed. People like Chen Sheng are the future of us Chinese." Robert Kuok said with a smile.
"Sheng Guo, please, it's quite hot outside." Chen Zhiwen stopped being modest and invited Robert Kuok into the building.
"Okay, please." Kuok Henian said politely.
Several people, plus some assistants and bodyguards around them, followed behind and entered the building together.
"Sheng Chen, the lobby of your building is even more luxurious than the Kangle Building." Robert Kuok said after entering.
"It was built a few years later than Kang Le Building, and it was designed by world architect Pei Jinming." Chen Zhiwen said with a smile, "But in terms of location, it is far behind Kang Le Building."
"Yes, the location of Central is the core of Hong Kong. I had been planning to buy a Central building in Hong Kong for the past two years, but happened to encounter the outbreak of the oil crisis and stopped. Now looking back, Central House prices are much more expensive than before, but I missed this golden period." Robert Kuok shook his head and smiled bitterly.
"There has been a lot of investment in the golden age. It is difficult to predict the future of Hong Kong's real estate. Besides, there are also many opportunities outside of Hong Kong real estate." Chen Zhiwen said with a smile. Housing prices in Hong Kong are now very high. The price of land recently auctioned has exceeded 20,000 yuan per square foot. The foundation area of an office building alone may cost hundreds of millions of Hong Kong dollars.
However, compared to Hong Kong’s housing prices in the next 10 years, they are just child’s play, but people now don’t know.
Several people took the elevator and arrived at Chen Zhiwen's office. The assistant brought twice as high quality tea.
"Sheng Chen, in addition to inspecting the investment situation in Hong Kong, I have another important thing to do when I come to Hong Kong this time. I hope that Kerry Group can take over the agency operation rights of RT-Mart or Parknshop supermarkets in other countries besides Malaysia. ." Robert Kuok said straight to the point after drinking a cup of tea.
"Hutchison Whampoa has only opened more than 10 RT-Mart and 50 ParknShop supermarkets in Malaysia, right? This number is just a drop in the bucket for Malaysia. How come Guo Sheng is interested in investing in other countries?" Chen Zhiwen asked curiously.
In the future, Hutchison Whampoa's retail will be operated by itself except in China, Hong Kong and the Mainland. If there are investment plans in other places, they will give priority to Chinese people with the attitude of forming an alliance with the local area, because in many Southeast Asian countries, it is very difficult if they do not have enough connections. It is difficult to build a successful one on your own. Instead of doing this, it is better to cooperate with local giants. Hong Kong provides goods and management systems, and local consortiums in Southeast Asia provide manpower, resources, etc., and the financial parties work together to supervise, playing a balancing role.
The first country in Southeast Asia to cooperate was in Malaysia, which is a company owned by Kuok Henian. In more than a year, the two parties have expanded together in Malaysia, with almost 10 large supermarkets RT-Mart and medium-sized supermarket ParknShop.
"Because I am optimistic about Chen Sheng's layout in the retail field. After studying Mr. Chen's entrepreneurial process, I have to admit that Chen Sheng's use of Galaxy Trade to gradually control the purchase of daily necessities in European and American supermarkets is really powerful. Now, Suppliers in Malaysia also adopt the same countermeasures. There is no reason why Southeast Asia cannot do it." Robert Kuok continued: "Although the retail industry in Malaysia has just begun, I have sufficient funds and can work with PARKnSHOP in several markets at the same time. The country works together.”
"In other countries, can Guo Sheng ensure that he can safely open large-scale supermarkets? This is not a factory." Chen Zhiwen thought for a while and asked.
Investing in factories that can create employment anywhere, especially those that make export products, will definitely be welcomed by the local area. Although supermarkets can also create employment, they make money locally, and the local area itself must have a similar industrial chain. , which forms a strong conflict. In countries like Europe and the United States that advertise free trade, things are better. As long as they don’t go too far, it’s generally fine. But with so many small countries in Southeast Asia, it’s hard to say.
"I can't personally, but there are actually Chinese forces in every place in Southeast Asia. Many Chinese rich people also work in groups, or some powerful ones can dominate one side. In the past few decades, I have known all the Chinese who have made certain achievements in Southeast Asia. They are basically It covers many countries in Asia, so I can serve as an intermediary to introduce these people to Chen Sheng, and then we can cooperate and invest together. How about? According to the rules of our cooperation, your people will manage it, and the local people will be responsible for handling various matters. In terms of procurement, light industrial products are provided by Galaxy Trading, and local procurement is handled by local people, how about that?" Robert Kuok said.
"Okay, but if Guo Sheng also joins, how will the shares be divided?" Chen Zhiwen nodded and said.
In the retail industry, purchasing rights are the most important. Everyone knows this. To expand in Southeast Asia, appropriate benefits must be given out. In addition to equity, some purchasing rights are also given away. All kinds of daily necessities belong to Galaxy Trading. , other food, fruits, local specialties, etc. are purchased by local people, but there is also a balance between both parties, that is, joint financial supervision.
When it comes to purchasing, there is always a little fuss and water, as long as it is not too outrageous. Even the daily necessities provided by Galaxy Trading are more expensive than those provided to Europe and the United States, but even so, PARKnSHOP and RT-Mart are still very competitive in Malaysia. In countries with no industrial capacity, industrial products are very expensive.
"As for the shares, I don't want more. How about you give me 10%? I can act as an intermediary to ensure that Chen Sheng's investment will not cause any major problems. How about that?" Robert Kuok said with a smile.
"Guo Sheng is really good at doing business, okay, no problem." Chen Zhiwen nodded and said.
I am afraid of being cheated by people in Southeast Asia, but local consortiums in Southeast Asia are also afraid of being cheated by international consortiums. Trust is one of the biggest costs in doing business. When two unfamiliar people start to cooperate, there will be difficulties in many aspects. After a long period of running-in, everyone got to know each other, and then we were able to cooperate normally.
This should be the role of Robert Kuok. As the sugar king who has been in Southeast Asia for decades, he is naturally familiar and trusted by many people in Southeast Asia. He also has business dealings with Hong Kong and has been cooperating with Hutchison Whampoa in Malaysia for more than two years. , is naturally the best candidate for this middleman.
For Chen Zhiwen, instead of slowly selecting and screening suitable candidates in so many countries in Southeast Asia one by one, and then needing to work on the cooperation for a long time, it is better to let Robert Kuok be the middleman, so that he can save a lot of money. Risks and a lot of unnecessary time are reduced, which can be said to be a win-win situation.
"Thank you, Mr. Chen. Win-win cooperation is what I have always pursued." Robert Kuok smiled and said, "By the way, I heard that Mr. Chen bought a very large farm in the United States. There are many similar farms in Southeast Asia. Yes, if you are interested, I can also introduce it to you."
"It's not necessary for the time being." Chen Zhiwen shook his head and said. The future economy of Southeast Asia is too uncertain. Even if he wants to acquire it, it will be more cost-effective to wait until the Asian financial crisis.
"Okay, Chen Sheng can come to me if you need it." Robert Kuok nodded and said.
"Guo Sheng, I wonder if you are interested in investing in China?" Chen Zhiwen suddenly asked.
PS: Please give me a monthly ticket
(End of chapter)
