Sun Xiushun, president of Winning International Group, has been honoured in Guinea for his service to the country, which includes helping it to become the world’s largest bauxite exporter.

Singapore-based Sun was made an Officer of the National Order of Merit by Guinean President Alpha Conte. It is the highest honour ever given to a non-Guinean.

A self-made shipowner, Sun made inroads into the West African country in 2013 to source bauxite after Indonesia banned the export of the unprocessed mineral.