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, etc.). However, after the South African War, the geographical west of East Africa has actually shifted further west to Angola and other areas. region, 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 changed from the central part before the South African War to the Ubangi River Basin, the Congo River Basin, the Angola region and the South-Western Province from the north, so the original western movement should also follow Times change.”

“Southwestern Province, also known as Southwest Africa, was included in my country’s territory relatively early, but was not effectively developed due to traffic conditions in the past. The Ubangi River Basin was developed earlier, but it has always been on the edge of my country’s territory. Congo The estuary area of ​​the river basin was also incorporated into the territory of East Africa along with Angola, so among these areas, only Angola has the highest degree of development.”

"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."

"Our country has moved its capital 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. , which is unbalanced.”

"So how to make 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 in the future, namely the already formed Indian Ocean Economic Zone, with the Rhine City as the The central economic zone in the center and the yet-to-be-formed Atlantic Economic Zone are three major vertical economic development regions.”

Among the three vertical economic zones proposed by Ernst, 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, Siweite said: "According to His Highness's request, we are prepared 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.”

The Atlantic Coast Railway 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 is 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 will also be the foundation for the founding of our country in East Africa. The most difficult railway ever built.”

“Once the railway is built, the journey from Bangui to Kinshasa will not only rely on the water transportation of the Ubangi River. Although the Ubangi River can reach Bangui directly, it cannot guarantee smooth flow all year round due to the seasonal climate. , and the railway will supplement the shipping on the Ubangi River. At the same time, after the railway is completed, it will also completely connect the two major railway arteries of the Northern Railway and the Atlantic Coast. "

"The Southwestern Province Railway Extension Line is also for the same reason. It can connect the Atlantic Coast Railway and the Southern Railway network in series, 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 is currently self-sufficient in iron ore, but far less so in coal mines. Therefore, the coal resources it requires still 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 transported through the central government. The railway transits through the central region, which increases costs out of thin air.

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 mainly relies on resources from the central and eastern regions.

There is also a key issue here, that is, in order to balance the accounts, many industrial products in East Africa 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, and the times have not developed to this level. For example, the currency issuance rights and finance in many colonial areas are in the hands of the mother country. The locals have no autonomy, and there are no conditions for direct and equal exchanges with East Africa. , so bartering is more acceptable.

For example, the trade between East Africa and India is like this. Although India is a British colony, it also has its own subordinate governance system, mainly local princes and nobles and local British officials. East Africa negotiated with these forces to circumvent the interference of the British mainland.

After all, it is impossible for East Africa to take the Rhine Shield directly to the Indian colonial government. If the British mainland finds out, it will be a taboo. Goods are much easier to handle. After all, the place of production may not be directly stated on the goods, and the price of goods is not fixed like currency.

One pound is one pound, but it is not certain how much a pound of goods on the market sells, which provides space for middlemen to make a profit, and the Indian colonial government plays the role of a middleman.

Moreover, in general commercial activities, the purpose of merchants is to obtain more currency. It is very difficult for East Africa to directly get a penny from other countries and forces, but if it is an unimportant thing in the local area, it is much easier to exchange.

For example, India has abundant coal resources, and as a colony, India's own industry does not have much demand for coal. At this time, corrupt officials of the colonial government and local princes and nobles can use local coal to exchange goods with East Africa.

Although this is inefficient, slow to gain, and long in cycle, and after all, it is not as convenient as currency settlement, it allows East African goods to be successfully circulated, thereby driving the development of local industries.

This is feasible in East Africa. After all, as an economy dominated by state-owned economy, East Africa can redistribute and integrate resources at the national level, while commercial activities in general countries are mainly carried out through private individuals.

Imagine a British rag merchant in the 19th century who sold his products in India. The return he wanted was obviously pounds. If you asked him to pull a pile of coal of equal value back, then his brain circuit would definitely be abnormal. After all, the local coal in Britain is very abundant, developed a lot, and the cost is low. He has to pay more for transportation costs, which further increases the risk, unless this batch of coal is given away for free and he has a market in his home country.

So this form of trade is not impossible in other countries, but it must be done by people with strength. Even European monopoly organizations are mainly profit-oriented and will not do this in East Africa. Money can certainly be made, but it is too much work and thankless.

Therefore, in addition to normal commercial trade activities, the development path of the East African government in the Atlantic Economic Zone will also focus on barter trade with backward countries and regions along the Atlantic coast. This is essentially 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 a traditional business path.