Moilin Jean Ah-Chuen

Sir Jean Etienne Moilin Ah-Chuen (Chinese: 朱梅麟; 1911-1991) was a Sino-Mauritian politician and business man from Mauritius. He became First Chinese Cabinet Minister from 1967–1976 and First Chinese Member, Legislative Council in 1949. He was decorated by Pope John Paul II and knighted by Queen Elizabeth II.[1] He is also the founder of what is known as ABC Group, a diversified conglomerate with investmenrs banking, foods industry, automobile, and shipping in Mauritius.[2]

Moilin Jean Ah-Chuen image on 25 Mauritian rupee.

Family Background and History

His father, Chu Wei Chuen, arrived in Mauritius from Meizhou, Guangdong, China on 1887.[3] In the late 19th century during the Qing dynasty, many Hakka Chinese 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 did start a humble grocery store in the vicinity of one of the sugar cane factories. By the time he died, he was the owner of three shop 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'[5](At the central market place) because it was situated opposite the central market. He was later joined by his sons in the business. The ABC Group 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 that he had founded was named as one of the leading business organizations in Mauritius from 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 member of the Mauritius Union Assurance[8] in 1948, a company specialising in insurance, pension scheme and investments that is now listed on the Stock Exchange or Mauritius[9] under the symbol MUA. The group now has operations in several countries across East Africa.[10]

Politics

At the age of 31, he became the youngest president of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce .[11] This position marked the start of his political career. Under his charge, the chamber later played an important role in providing food to the Chinese community in Mauritius during World War II when Japanese warships and submarines disrupted the food supply to the island nation.[5]

As an influencer in the community, he was asked in 1948 by the British Colonial Government to sit as a member of the Legislative Assembly as a representative of the Chinese community.

He eventually turned politician and became the Minister of Local Government after Mauritius became independent in 1968 when Seewoosagur Ramgoolam was the Prime Minister.

The Ministry of Local Government is responsible for local government matters in Mauritius and Jean Ah-Chuen played a key role in the industrialisation of the country after independence.[12] He was instrumental in establishing the Mauritius free-trade zone. Through his connections the first investors from Taiwan and Hong Kong came to Mauritius to set up textiles operations which helped to reduce unemployment in the country.[13]

In 1980, Moilin Jean Ah-Chuen is knighted by Queen Elizabeth II.[14]

Legacy

He passed away in October 1991, and left a legacy to his 11 children.[15]

In 1992, his daughter, Marie Madeleine Lee, became the first Mauritian ambassador to China.[16]

In honor of his contribution to the country, Sir Jean Moilin's portrait was printed on the 25-rupee banknotes in Mauritius in 1998.

In 2007, his children decided to transform the family's old residence in Rose-Hill into a museum and memorial center.[15] The museum would open to the public two years later in 2009.[17]

His biography was written by Lilianne Berthelot, a mauritian author,[18] and was published in 2008.

In 2011, the Mauritius Post also issued a postage stamp to commemorate his birth centenary.

References
  1. "海外客家人奮鬥故事". www.randl.com.tw.
  2. "Trusted reputation: Donald Ah-Chuen". www.theceomagazine.com.
  3. "Founder - Foundation - ABC GROUP". www.abcgroup.mu.
  4. "The only Chinese found on foreign banknotes had a great story behind". www.bastillepost.com. 2017-12-22. Retrieved 2020-08-28.
  5. 董志成. "One Chinese family's legacy in paradise". www.chinadaily.com.cn. Retrieved 2020-08-28.
  6. "5 Multi-Millionaires From Mauritius You Should Know". www.forbes.com//.
  7. Nsehe, Mfonobong. "5 Multi-Millionaires From Mauritius You Should Know". Forbes. Retrieved 2020-08-27.
  8. "Our History - Mauritius Union". www.mua.mu. Retrieved 2020-08-28.
  9. "Mauritius Union Assurance Company Limited (SEM:MUA) | african markets". www.african-markets.com. Retrieved 2020-08-28.
  10. "Mauritian Insurer Plans Acquisitions to Boost Africa Footprint". Bloomberg.com. 2018-10-01. Retrieved 2020-08-28.
  11. "History - Chinese Chamber of Commerce CCC Mauritius". cccmauritius.org. Retrieved 2020-08-27.
  12. "Mauritians of influence since 1968". www.lemauricien.com/.
  13. "Mauritian chronicles". South China Morning Post. 1995. Retrieved 2020-08-28.
  14. "Chinese Mauritians: Paradise Island's Next Dodo?". Cambridge Globalist. 2013-11-27. Retrieved 2020-08-28.
  15. Groëme-Harmon, Aline (2017-05-20). "Patrimoine: au musée comme à la maison". lexpress.mu (in French). Retrieved 2020-08-28.
  16. "45 years of diplomatic relations between China and Mauritius". Le Defi Media Group (in French). Retrieved 2020-08-27.
  17. "Chinese family leaves lasting impression - AFRICA - Chinadaily.com.cn". africa.chinadaily.com.cn. Retrieved 2020-08-28.
  18. Berthelot, Lilian (2009). Sir Jean Étienne Moi Lin ah Chuen (1911-1991) (in French). ISBN 978-99903-22-27-9.
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