Chapter 980 Atlantic Economic Zone
East Africa also had the same "Westward Expansion Movement" as the United States in the past, but as time goes by, the connotation of the Westward Expansion Movement is also changing.
The original westward movement was to develop what is now the central region, including industrial areas such as Bohemia Province (Zambia, Zimbabwe, southern Congo and other regions). However, after the South African War, the geographical west of East Africa has actually Turning to areas such as Angola further west, so this is the result of the changes in the territory of East Africa.
So Ernst added: "Now the western part of our country has transformed from the central part before the South African War to the north including the Ubangi River Basin, the Congo River Basin, the Angola region and the South-West Province, so the original The western movement should also change with the development of the times.”
“Southwestern Province, also known as Southwest Africa, was incorporated into our country relatively early, but it was not effectively developed due to traffic conditions in the past. The Ji River Basin was developed earlier, but it has always been on the edge of our country. The estuary area of the Congo River Basin was also merged into the territory of East Africa along with the Angola region, so among these regions, only Angola has the highest degree of development. "< br>
"However, there is still a big gap between Angola and the developed regions in the east and central areas. Therefore, in the next ten years, the western region with Angola as the core will be the focus of national development."
"my country The capital has been moved from the first town on the eastern coast to today's Rhine City. Therefore, with Rhine City as the center, there are two important radiation lines, corresponding to the Indian Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean. The economic development level of the Indian Ocean coast is higher than that of the Atlantic coast. This It is unbalanced.”
“So how to let the west catch up with the development level of the east in a short period of time is a key issue we should discuss. In turn, I think East Africa should form three major economic cores, respectively. It is the Indian Ocean Economic Zone that has been formed, the Central Economic Zone centered on the Rhine City, and the Atlantic Economic Zone that has not yet been formed, the three vertical economic development regions proposed by Ernst. In the region, the two oceanic economic zones mainly rely on the advantages of maritime transportation, while the central part relies on the advantages of mineral resources and land transportation.
At this time, Siweitecai said: "According to His Highness's request, we are preparing to develop related advantageous industries in Angola and other western regions, and use national power and policies to significantly improve the local industrial level."
"This includes the construction of a deep line of the Atlantic Coast Railway to break the traffic congestion in Angola and the Ubangi River Basin, the Congo River Basin, and the Southwest Province. This is a key project for future railway transportation in Angola."
Atlantic Coast Railway It has been built a long time ago, but it only covers the coastal areas of Angola. Now the East African government’s idea is to completely turn it into an artery like the Indian Ocean Coast Railway, which can connect the entire west.
“The technical difficulty lies in the fact that the extension line has to pass through two climate zones: tropical rainforest and tropical desert, and cover complex terrains such as mountains, plateaus, plains, hills, deserts, rainforests, grasslands, rivers, etc. This railway It will also be the most difficult railway to build since the founding of our country in East Africa.”
“Once the railway is completed, the journey from Bangui to Kinshasa will not only rely on the water transportation of the Ubangi River, but also the Ubangi River. Although it is possible to reach Bangui directly, due to the seasonality of the climate, it is not guaranteed to be smooth all year round. The railway is a supplement to the shipping on the Ubangi River. At the same time, after the railway is completed, it can also connect the Northern Railway and the Atlantic Coast Railway. The main artery is completely connected. "
"The southwestern province railway extension line is also the same. It can connect the Atlantic Coast Railway and the southern railway network, which is of great significance to the economic development of the west."
"Especially in the transportation of energy and minerals, although the west is also rich in minerals, it also needs the support of minerals in the south, especially the relatively scarce coal resources."
Angola's iron ore is currently self-sufficient. The coal mines are much different, so the coal resources they require need to be transported from southern East Africa before the mineral exploration work in the region is completed. In the past, the coal needed for Angola’s industrial development needed to be transferred through the central region through the central railway, which was created out of thin air. Increased cost.
Although East Africa, like Japan, a resource-poor country, also imports foreign mineral resources to develop its own industry, the difference is that imported minerals in East Africa account for a small proportion of its own industrial development, and it is mainly dependent on China. Resources in the Eastern Region.
There is another key issue in this, and that is that in order to balance the accounts, many East African industrial products are exported to backward countries and regions, in the absence of advantageous markets, mainly through material exchange with the locals. Many backward countries and regions, including some colonial areas, have insufficient funds and purchasing power due to their backward economic level.
In this case, they are naturally unable to consume more industrial products, so the East African government will directly carry out a "barter" trade situation based on local resource conditions, similar to a large Eastern country in the previous life that implemented the "barter" trade situation in order to bypass the U.S. dollar. currency swap.
Of course, East Africa has not developed to the level of a major country, nor has the era developed to this level. For example, the currency issuance rights and finance in many colonial areas are in the hands of the sovereign state, and the locals have no autonomy and no direct control. The conditions for equal exchange with East Africa are so bartering is more acceptable.
For example, the trade between East Africa and India is like this. Although India is a British colony, India also has its own lower-level governance system, mainly local princes and nobles and local British officials. East Africa negotiates with these forces. This circumvented the intervention of the British mainland.
After all, it is impossible for East Africa to directly accept the Rhine shield from the Indian colonial government. This would be a big taboo if the British discovered it, and the goods would be much easier to handle. After all, the goods may not be directly written on them. It indicates the place of production, and at the same time, the price of goods is not fixed like currency.
One pound is one pound, but it is not certain how much one pound of goods sells on the market. This provides room for middlemen to make profit differences, and the Indian colonial government plays the role of middlemen. .
And in general commercial activities, the purpose of businessmen is to obtain more currency. It is very difficult for East Africa to directly extract a piece of money from other countries and forces, but if it is an exchange for unimportant local things, Much simpler.
For example, India is rich in coal resources, but as a colony, India’s industry has little demand for coal. At this time, the corrupt officials of the colonial government and the local princes and nobles can bring local coal to East Africa. Exchange goods.
Although this is inefficient, has slow returns, and has a long cycle. After all, it is not as convenient as currency settlement, but it allows East African commodities to successfully circulate, thereby promoting the development of local industry.
This is feasible in East Africa. After all, East Africa, as an economy dominated by state-owned economies, can reallocate and integrate resources at the national level, while in general, commercial activities in countries are mainly conducted through private individuals.
Imagine a British rag merchant in the 19th century. He sold his products in India. The return he wanted was obviously pounds. You asked him to bring back a pile of coal of the same value. , then his brain circuit is definitely abnormal. After all, the British coal is abundant, developed a lot, and the cost is low. He has to pay more transportation costs, which further increases the risk, unless this batch of coal is given away for free, and he has a market in the country.
Therefore, it is not that this form of trade cannot be done in other countries, but it must be done by capable people. But even European monopolies have profit as their main goal and will not do the East African thing. Money can definitely be made. But it’s too much effort and thankless.
Therefore, in the development path of the East African government in the Atlantic Economic Zone, in addition to normal commercial and trade activities, direct barter trade with backward countries and regions along the Atlantic coast will also be a focus. This is essentially It is a replication of East Africa's trade in the Indian Ocean.
For the East African government, this is beneficial to the current economic development of East Africa. After all, as a late-developing country, East Africa does not have traditional business paths.
(End of this chapter)