Bit Hitters in the major league

Among the 250 overseas guests invited to the business summit, some are major players by any standards. Here's a sampling of the heavy hitters who'll be there.

S.R. Cho (64), chairman, Hyosung Corp, vice-chairman Pacific Basin Economic Council.

Business: One of Korea's top 10 conglomerates. Exports steel, textiles, electronics, tyres and industrial
chemicals.

Headquarters: Seoul

Revenues (1998): 1576b won (about $US2.5b at current exchange rates).

Dr Helmut Sohmen, 60, chairman, World Wide Shipping Group, chairman Pacific Basin Economic Council.

Business: Large tanker and bulk carrier shipping.

Head Office: Hong Kong.

Xuebing Wang, President, Bank of China

Business: Banking

Head Office: Beijing

PROFITS (1998): $US386m

Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah (53), Sultan of Brunei.

Business: King

Head Office: Brunei, Darussalam.

Wealth: Depends who you ask - was $US40b 10 years ago, some reports now have it at a mere $US5b or so.

Subjects: 300,000.

Gary L Tooker, vice chairman, Motorola Inc.

Business: Telecommunications, semiconductors.

Head Office: Schaumbug, Illinois.

Employees: 150,000

Revenues (1998):$US29.4b


Ernest Micek (63), chief executive, Cargill Inc., largest private corporation in the US.

Business: Commodities trading, food processing, seeds, animal feed, fertiliser, steelmaking, financial
trading, futures brokerage. Joint venture with Monsanto.

Head Office: Wayzata, Minnesota.

Employees: 80,600 in 65 countries.

Revenues (1998): $US51.4b

Jack Smith (60), chairman, General Motors.

Business: Vehicle manufacturer

Headquarters: Detroit

Employees: 350,000

Revenues (1998): US$178b


John S. Wadsworth jr (60), chairman, Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Asia and chairman MSDW India Securities.

Business: Financial services

Head Office: Hong Kong

Revenues (1998): US$31.1b