Chapter 1194 Iron Ore Business Opportunities
The southern port area of Dar es Salaam.
This is the industrial essence of Dar es Salaam. A large number of towering chimneys emit plumes of smoke into the sky, rendering the entire sky into a thick line of ink. Under the smoke, there are carts of goods in the factory area. Coming in and out from here, the unloading workers were busy.
Under these factories, the developed pipe network system continuously discharges the factory sewage into the Indian Ocean, while the port area looks relatively neat and clean.
"Mr. Pasteur, the industry in East Africa is really shocking. Although I often travel to Dar es Salaam on business, every time I come here, I am amazed by the development of Dar es Salaam." Australian businessman Howard said.
Because it is a British colony, Australia did not send official personnel to participate in the East Africa World Expo. The exhibitors in East Africa this time were mainly Australian business organizations, and Howard is the president of the Western Australia and East Africa Business Association.
Western Australia is a first-level administrative region in Australia, occupying about one-third of the entire Australia. It is also the most active region in Australia's trade with East Africa.
Pasteur smiled and said: "President Howard, thank you for your compliment, but this is also one of the main reasons why Dar es Salaam was able to seize the opportunity. Australia must have also made a lot of money in this round of war. ”
There is almost no need to doubt this. As a British colony, although Australia has sent troops and provided various supports, in the final analysis, the benefits that Britain can bring to Australia are huge.
There is no doubt that this is also affected by the practical factors of East Africa. For the sudden rise of the Indian Ocean superpower in East Africa, Australia urgently needs the British Royal Navy to ensure its security status.
There is no doubt that the rise of East Africa is considered by the Australian government to be a huge threat, and it was Japan that played this role in its previous life.
In this regard, Ernst can only say that the Australian government is really accurate in judging people. In fact, Ernst has always wanted to get involved in Australia, but he has never found an opportunity.
However, the geographical pressure that East Africa exerts on Australia is still clearly visible. Needless to say, in the Indian Ocean region, in the South Pacific and near the equator, many East African colonies have actually formed a overwhelming force on Australia.
Australia has always been a loyal dog of the British, so the Australian government's inner resistance and distrust towards East Africa is also reasonable.
Of course, on the surface, Australia really does not dare to reject East Africa directly, especially since Britain declared war on the Allies in 1914, the Australian government has significantly loosened a series of restrictions on East Africa.
After all, at this time, the United Kingdom cannot escape. Australia thinks that it has no protective umbrella, so it does not dare to cause too much trouble with East Africa.
During the South African War, Australia followed the British in its treacherous attacks on East Africa, and even sent troops, but there were only a dozen people, so they did not attract attention.
All in all, before the reconciliation between East and Britain, Australia's attitude towards East Africa was like a mad dog, which was in line with Ernst's understanding of the Angsa people in his previous life, and he liked to do nothing.
But as a dog, after all, it is still aware of current affairs. Now Australia does not have the arrogance it once had.
In the previous life, Australia followed Britain and struck hard at the German colonies in the Pacific. But now these German colonies have become strategic strongholds in East Africa to deter Australia.
Western Australia was the birthplace of the most important separatist forces in Australia in the previous life, so economic trade between East Africa and Western Australia was very frequent, and the Western Australia and East Africa Business Association was born.
"President Howard, the current European war is a rare opportunity for most countries and regions outside the region. After all, European industry and economy were once too strong, which made it difficult for other regions in the world to develop, and the European war is It gives other regions a chance to breathe," Pasteur said. Howard laughed and said: "Mr. Pasteur is right. Australia's wool exports to Europe have reached a new high this year. This was simply unbelievable before."
Howard's business has been going smoothly in the past few years, so he has a very good mentality. In the early stage, he was supported by the East African market. Now, with the help of the European war, the entire Western Australia economy has entered a state of vitality and everything is competing for growth.
Pasteur asked: "I wonder, Mr. Howard, what content do the exhibits you bring this time cover?"
Howard said: "Mainly some Australian agricultural and mineral products, such as wool, woolen fabrics, art, iron ore, wheat, etc."
Pasteur: "Your country's woolen fabrics are still very popular in East Africa. However, in our environment, the demand for the textile industry is actually not too high. However, if it can be used for other purposes, it is still very popular." Welcome.”
The climate in East Africa does not change strongly throughout the year, and the demand for clothing is definitely not as good as in areas with four distinct seasons. This has restricted the development of the textile industry in East Africa to a certain extent.
So Pasteur also persuaded Howard out of this consideration.
Howard said: "Of course, our cashmere yarn and clothing are mainly supplied to Europe and the United States. We naturally have a special positioning for the East African market. We mainly focus on various types of handicrafts for the wool products on display this time."
Of course, it’s not that East Africa doesn’t need wool, but East Africa’s own wool is enough to be self-sufficient. Most areas in East Africa are suitable for the development of animal husbandry, especially the southern provinces, which are the bases of the East African wool industry.
Since Howard had his own ideas, Pasteur naturally wouldn't say anything more on this issue, but he did get some interesting information from Howard just now.
"Mr. Howard, you just said that the products you brought to the exhibition this time contain iron ore, right?" Pasteur asked.
Howard nodded and said, "That's true. That piece of iron ore was discovered by an employee of my ranch. Later, I found someone to conduct a simple survey there, and initially determined that there was a large-scale iron ore."
"So I brought some samples over this time to see if anyone would be willing to cooperate in developing that iron mine. The main reason is that my pasture is far away from the coast and there is a lack of workers, so it is difficult to develop it."
There are many requirements for mining. The first thing to solve is the transportation problem. After all, if the minerals cannot be transported, there is basically no chance. Just like Bolivia in the previous life, the iron ore resources are extremely rich, but the transportation conditions are too poor and the location of the mining area is not good, so we can only Look at the "Golden Mountain" and sigh.
Australia in this era was a typical sparsely populated area, and mining to make money obviously required a lot of workers. The early development of the mining industry in East Africa was made possible by the lives of black slaves.
However, there are not many indigenous people in Australia, and they are basically wiped out by the current Australians. It is certainly impossible for Australians to engage in such a dangerous business on their own. After all, there are too many opportunities in Australia today to engage in breeding and farming. Plantation is enough to make you rich.
Of course, it’s not that they are really indifferent to local mineral resources, but they are reluctant or unable to make initial investments. Mineral development obviously requires solving infrastructure problems first. This expenditure is not small. How can we talk about railway and port issues? solve.
Therefore, developing the mining industry at this time involves high risks, high investment, and some losses outweigh the gains. Anyway, the land is in your own hands, and it does not matter when you develop it. If there is a mine, it is impossible to run away.
Pasteur was more interested in what Howard said. After all, East Africa is a large industrial country. Although East Africa is rich in various resources, the consumption is large and many resources are not evenly distributed.
(End of chapter)