Tharay Sithu Aung Ko Win () is a Burmese business tycoon and former school teacher. He owns interests in several businesses in Myanmar under the Kanbawza (KBZ) brand in the finance, agriculture, aviation, manufacturing and tourism sectors.

Career

Aung Ko Win was a teacher, then he switched to tutoring before going into trading and mining. He has benefited from close connections to General

Maung Aye Maung Aye (; ; born 25 December 1937) is a retired Burmese army general who played a significant role in Myanmar's military government. He served as Vice Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), the ruling military junta of M ...

, the second in command of the former military junta, the

State Peace and Development Council The State Peace and Development Council ( ; abbreviated SPDC or , ) was the official name of the Military dictatorship, military government of Burma (Myanmar) which, in 1997, succeeded the State Law and Order Restoration Council (; abbrevi ...

(SPDC). While Maung Aye was a commander in

jade Jade is an umbrella term for two different types of decorative rocks used for jewelry or Ornament (art), ornaments. Jade is often referred to by either of two different silicate mineral names: nephrite (a silicate of calcium and magnesium in t ...

-mining region of

Shan State Shan State (, ; , ) is a administrative divisions of Myanmar, state of Myanmar. Shan State borders China (Yunnan) to the north, Laos (Louang Namtha Province, Louang Namtha and Bokeo Provinces) to the east, and Thailand (Chiang Rai Province, Chia ...

, Maung Aye offered Aung Ko Win jade and gem mining concessions. 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.

Personal life

He is married to Nang Than Htwe, the niece of Win Myint, a former

official. He has 3 daughters. His wife is Deputy Chairman of KBZ, while his daughters serve as directors within the company. Two daughters are Deputy CEOs of KBZ Bank. His brother-in-law, Major-General Zaw Myint Naing was appointed vice-governor of the Central Bank of Myanmar in August 2022.

Awards and honours

Awards

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. 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 Manila, officially the City of Manila, is the Capital of the Philippines, capital and second-most populous city of the Philippines after Quezon City, with a population of 1,846,513 people in 2020. Located on the eastern shore of Manila Bay on ...

, Philippines.

References

{{Authority control Burmese businesspeople Mandalay University alumni