Chapter 1193: Chapter 202: Donghua Business Alliance
After watching the successful takeoff and landing performance of the carrier aircraft on the Hawk Strike aircraft carrier, Ernst was in a great mood. In fact, today’s aircraft carriers are not considered a technically difficult challenge.
After all, early aircraft carriers didn’t require much, being able to complete some simple tasks was sufficient. Although, with the progression of war, Britain’s carrier development progress accelerated greatly, East Africa’s Hawk Strike is far superior to those rough emergency models used during wartime.
After all, East Africa’s aircraft carrier holds a leading position in structural design, crafted by East African researchers with special design and independently constructed, rather than being makeshift transformations from cargo ships, offering more professionalism.
From Ernst’s perspective, the ability of the carrier aircraft on the Hawk Strike to takeoff and land smoothly is an obvious indication of the significant efforts put in by East African researchers.
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Far East Empire.
Affected by the European war, the Far East Empire’s ethnic capital now has ample opportunities to breathe, not only growing and strengthening at home but also able to export a few goods to the European battlefield.
Of course, while their pressures have been greatly reduced, they’re not entirely carefree. The reduction in competitors doesn’t mean they’re all gone, particularly East Africa, the United States, and Japan stand out among them.
Zhuhai Economic Special Zone.
June 12, 1915.
Supported by the consulate, Bruce, president of the East Africa Zhuhai Chamber of Commerce, gathered prominent local figures at the Chamber of Commerce.
"Gentlemen, competition in the European market is especially fierce now, so our East African Government is willing to continue cooperating with you all to reduce some of the insignificant losses caused by competition," Bruce said to the anxious crowd.
This is the helplessness of a backward nation. Facing a world power like East Africa, even if they thrive in the Far East, they can hardly have the confidence to engage in equal dialogue with someone like Bruce.
In recent years, Zhuhai has developed rapidly, and due to the growth in tax revenue and land scarcity in Zhuhai, the East African and Far East Empire governments agreed, with the Far East Empire’s Central Government approving the proposal to upgrade Zhuhai Trade Region to Zhuhai Economic Special Zone.
As for why the Far East Empire’s Central Government agreed to this seemingly East African influence-strengthening proposal, it was actually "a wolf in sheep’s clothing."
After the fall of the Qing Government, the domestic situation of the Far East Empire was not stable, particularly with the Far East Empire Central Government’s control over the southern regions rapidly declining.
Of course, East Africa does not care about these; the East African Government has only recognized the legitimacy of the Far East Empire’s Central Government, even if only nominally.
This made the Zhuhai Trade Region the only city in the Lingnan area where the Far East Empire’s Central Government could gain significant tax revenue.
You have to know, the economic strength of the Zhuhai Trade Region is not weak, for with a relatively relaxed and fair investment environment, many Far East Empire’s ethnic enterprises invested in Zhuhai Trade Region during the Qing Government Era.
Zhuhai Trade Region can be regarded as a safe haven for the Far East Empire’s ethnic entrepreneurs in the Pearl River Delta. After leaving Zhuhai Trade Region, they would have to directly compete with compradors supported by other capitalist countries or enterprises from capitalist countries.
Other great powers have always liked using official power, including their own and the Far East Empire’s official power, to suppress these Far East Empire’s ethnic enterprises.
Under the three mountains of imperialism, domestic bureaucracy, and foreign capitalism, these ethnic enterprises had no way to survive.
But in Zhuhai Trade Region, the situation is quite different. Due to the agreement between East Africa and the Far East Empire’s Government, East Africa has significant autonomy in its economic territory. This makes it difficult for Far East Empire’s bureaucrats to have a big hand in the economic territory’s enterprises, and although East Africa emphasizes the interests of its own enterprises more, it doesn’t go as far as to annihilate Far East Empire’s enterprises.
This has made Zhuhai Trade Region the most active area for ethnic capital in the Far East Empire within the Lingnan, with many enterprises and people pouring in, resulting in the land tension of Zhuhai Trade Region.
So in 1912, East Africa, along with the then-new Far East Empire Central Government, reached an agreement to merge Xiangshan County around Zhuhai Trade Region into the Zhuhai Trade Region, forming a new Zhuhai Economic Special Zone, with Xiangshan County being upgraded to Xiangshan City, and the original Zhuhai Trade Region upgraded to Zhuhai City.
With these two cities as the core, Zhuhai Economic Special Zone has become East Africa’s most important economic and trade bridgehead in the Lingnan of the Far East Empire.
And at the time, the newly formed Far East Empire Central Government had just been established, and the south was nominally cooperating with the new government, not an area under its control.
The emergence of the Zhuhai Economic Special Zone provided the new government with an opportunity to expand its influence here, and although power is shared with East Africa, it’s better than nothing.
East Africa is relatively kind to the new government, at least handing over all local tax revenues and economic gains to the new government.
And with the rise of new thoughts such as industrial salvation in this ancient empire, the development of Zhuhai Economic Special Zone can be said to be progressing rapidly, including the newly merged Xiangshan City quickly rising as a local hub of industry and commerce.
A large number of Far East Empire’s merchants, coupled with technology and resources such as markets brought by East Africa and the excellent business environment, made it difficult for the Zhuhai Economic Special Zone not to develop.
Since it’s a default East African economic territory, the local technology, supporting facilities, etc., naturally also adhere to East African standards, enabling the Zhuhai Economic Special Zone to align with East Africa domestically in terms of water and electricity, roads, production equipment, etc.
In summary, the two cities within the Zhuhai Economic Special Zone have become the fastest-developing areas in the Far East Empire in recent years.
And taking advantage of the opportunity presented by the European war, East Africa will further integrate the strength of the Zhuhai Economic Special Zone and the Huaihai Economic Zone, maximizing East African interests while concurrently allowing these Far East Empire ethnic enterprises that rely on the East African system to benefit.
The people from all walks of life in the Far East Empire in front of Bruce looked at each other, not understanding what Bruce meant.
"Everyone knows that since the outbreak of war in Europe last year, it has been an absolute good news for the economic development of non-European countries."
"You should also have noticed that in cities outside the Zhuhai Economic Special Zone, industry and commerce have exploded comprehensively. With the reduction of competition from European countries, and stimulated by the European war, the Far East Empire’s economy continues to grow."
"And I called everyone over here because I hope you all cooperate with our East African enterprises to maximize benefits through cooperation and coordination, competing with economic agents supported by other countries."
At this point, everyone understood what Bruce meant. The once Far East Empire was a commercial arena for Europe and America and various countries, and now East Africa wants to expand its advantage, severely striking the interests of European countries in the Far East Empire.
Of course, everyone doesn’t reject East Africa’s approach; they’re even quite tempted, as many present rely on East Africa to make a living. Now that East Africa has integrated them to compete with commercial agents of other great powers, it’s naturally good news for most people present.
And Bruce had not finished speaking, he continued: "At the same time, we also want to coordinate the resources in your hands as much as possible to participate in the competition in the European market. Europe lacks everything now, and the Far East Empire is vast and rich in resources. However, whether you can maximize the benefits of the resources in your hands requires cooperation from everyone."
"Thus, East Africa has resolved to establish a Donghua Business Alliance in the Far East Empire to facilitate the integration of industrial and commercial resources in the Zhuhai Economic Special Zone and the Huaihai Economic Zone during the European war."
The formation of this temporary business alliance is a win-win for both East Africa and the Far East Empire. The Far East Empire has abundant resources, but many won’t dare to touch business with the Allies, significantly due to the influence of England and France.
If they act under the name of East Africa, it will greatly develop trade between the Far East Empire and European countries, thus stimulating the development of the Far East Empire’s ethnic capital.
Of course, East Africa surely won’t do good deeds for free; East Africa’s technology and commercial standards can also leverage the forces of pro-East African merchants and entrepreneurs to further enter the Far East Empire’s market.
And the only ones to suffer losses are other great powers, after all, the more East Africa eats, the less they eat. Moreover, the promotion of technology and commercial standards will create technological dependencies; for instance, if East African machines are used, subsequent services will naturally also need to be provided by East Africa.
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