The next tycoon on our list is Thai billionaire Dhanin Chearavanont.

In 2014, Dhanin's youngest daughter, Thippaporn Ahriyavraromp (CEO of Magnolia Quality Development) had a lavish ‘fairy tale’ wedding with more than 4,000 guests, including celebrities, socialites, and then-Prime Minister Gen. Prayut Chan-o-cha. Two of Dhanin's sons help run the family business: Soopakij is the current Chairperson; Supachai is CEO.

But this family’s incredible wealth comes at the cost of their moral scruples: CP Group is part of two consortia developing a controversial special economic zone and deep sea port in Kyauk Phyu, Arakan State in Myanmar. This mega project is part of the China Myanmar Economic Corridor and has proceeded in partnership with the Myanmar military despite its 2021 coup attempt.

In 2023, an addendum to the concession agreement for the deep sea port was signed at a ceremony presided over by sanctioned junta minister Aung Naing Oo, in a rush to develop the controversial projects under the military’s coup attempt in the hope to avoid media and civil society scrutiny.

CP Group also operates in Myanmar’s agricultural sector. In 2014, it was exposed for procuring fishmeal from suppliers that use slaves. It continues to operate a business on land leased from a junta controlled ministry in Pyinmabin, an industrial zone managed by a sanctioned military conglomerate.

#ActNowASEAN #DirtyOver30 #NoMoreDirtyDeals #JusticeForMyanmar