A Tribute to Mr. Chu Shiushan

Chutex’s founder, Mr. Chu Shiu Shan (1918-2005), was born in Zhejiang Province’s Ningbo City. Mr. Chu was a successful businessman as well as a magnanimous philanthropist. At the age of seventeen, Mr. Chu left his hometown of Ningbo to do textile trading in the city of Shanghai. Before China’s civil war had begun, Mr. Chu and other members of the family had decided to relocate the Shanghai’s textile plant to Taiwan.

Mr. Chu restarted the textile business in Taiwan, which was very successful with the woven and printed fabrics that were in high demand during the 50s and 60s. The success of the textile venture under Taiwan Taishin Textile Company enabled Mr. Chu to jointly invest in other significant projects, such as the shipping company Sincere Steamships and the chemical factory South East Soda Manufacuring Company Limited, which is listed on the Taiwan Stock Exchange. At the same time, both sons of Mr. Chu began to expand the textile operations in other parts of Asia, with the eldest son, Dr. Chu Yinglong opening up Raja Brana in Indonesia and Mr. Chu Ying Piao, the second son, establishing Chin Heng Garments in Singapore during 1972.

Mr. Chu is well known not only for this business abilities, but his seemingly endless contributions to people in need. Mr. Chu has generously donated over 500 schools throughout China, ranging from scholarships to school buildings. He spared no hesitation in donating his money to the sick, building hospitals and donating funds throughout China and Taiwan. In addition, Mr. Chu has spent countless effort and money building retirement homes throughout China. Although his priority was always his hometown of Ningbo, Mr. Chu never neglected other areas in China and have tried his upmost in feeding the hungry, tending for the elderly, healing the sick, and providing education to the young in lesser-developed areas. When Mr. Chu passed away on December 15, 2005, he had donated almost all his massive fortune to charitable purposes.

As the venerable Mr. Chu once remarked “our business is not just about making money, it is about service to society”. At Chutex, we will always remember his words and will continue to conduct our business with an empahsis on social responsibility.