Moilin Jean Ah-Chuen
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Jean Etienne Moilin Ah-Chuen | |
|---|---|
 Moilin Jean Ah-Chuen image on 25 Mauritian rupee | |
| First Chinese Cabinet Minister | |
| In office 1967–1976 | |
| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Prime Minister | Seewoosagur Ramgoolam |
| First Chinese Member, Legislative Council | |
| Assumed office 1963 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1911 Meizhou, Guangdong, China |
| Died | October 1991 (aged 79–80) |
| Party | PMSD |
| Children | 11 |
| Profession | Businessman, politician |
| Awards | Knighted by Queen Elizabeth II |
Sir Jean Etienne Moilin Ah-Chuen (Chinese: 朱梅麟; 1911–1991) was a Sino-Mauritian politician and businessman from Mauritius. He was First Chinese Cabinet Minister from 1967 to 1976 and First Chinese Member, Legislative Council in 1963. He was decorated by Pope John Paul II and knighted by Queen Elizabeth II.[1] He is also the founder ABC Group, a diversified conglomerate with investments in banking, foods industry, automobile, and shipping in Mauritius.[2]
His father, Chu Wei Chuen, arrived in Mauritius from Meizhou Prefecture, Guangdong, China in 1887.[3] His dad was like many Hakka Chinese who went abroad in search of a better livelihood.[4] He was 14 years old. His dream was simple – start a business, make a fortune and return home. He started a grocery store in the vicinity of one of the sugar cane factories. By the time he died, he was the owner of three shops in the country.[2]
Jean Moilin was the second son of Chu Wei Chuen. He learned how to manage the family's shop from his father.
Jean was an active person, he gave his time to the community and worked with several associations. He was the co-founder of the Chinese Daily News, a Chinese newspaper outlet in Mauritius.
Career
In 1931, at the age of twenty, Jean set up his own convenience shop in Port-Louis at 18 Queen Street. The store was called ABC, which stands for 'Au Bazar Central' (At the Central Market) because it was situated opposite the central market.[5] He was later joined by his sons in the business. He took over the small business and expanded it into a highly diversified company now includes departments dedicated to car imports, banking, financial and insurance services, foods production and distribution, and shipping and freight.[2]
In 2017, ABC Group was named as one of the leading business organizations in Mauritius by Forbes Magazine[6] with his son was named as one of the multi-millionaire businessmen in Mauritius.[7]
Moilin Jean Ah-Chuen became one of the most successful entrepreneurs in Mauritius. He was also one of the founding members of the Mauritius Union Assurance[8] in 1948, a company specialising in insurance, pensions and investments that is listed on the Stock Exchange of Mauritius[9] under the symbol MUA. The group has operations in several countries across East Africa.[10]