Chapter 1504 - 40: Regional Economic Cooperation Organizations

Chapter 1504: Chapter 40: Regional Economic Cooperation Organizations

Without Germany, and even unable to attract European immigrants, the Southern German Kingdom cannot replicate the success that East Africa has experienced, let alone the fact that Southern Germany’s other conditions are much worse than East Africa’s.

Moreover, although the Southern German Kingdom’s resources are relatively abundant, its ability to develop and monetize them is still much lacking. East Africa was able to rapidly accumulate initial development funds largely because Ernst was aware of the general distribution of many minerals in East Africa.

Thus, the early mineral resource exploration in East Africa could be described as a semi-open-book examination. Within the general range defined by Ernst, hiring professional mineral exploration personnel from Europe made it easy to find some sizable mines, the most typical being the copper mines on the Katanga Plateau.

As for the Southern German Kingdom specifically, Ernst could do nothing about it, as Ernst’s former life’s work scope was concentrated in East African and South African countries.

In conclusion, it’s difficult for the Southern German Kingdom to replicate East Africa’s success, and it’s also hard for it to escape East Africa’s influence.

Subsequently, after exchanging a few pleasantries with Ludwig I, Friedrich continued his reception duties.

This time, only six countries and regions participated in the so-called international conference led by East Africa, namely Italy, Belgium, Spain, the Southern German Kingdom, Darfur Region, and Abyssinia Empire.

Among them, Italy’s participation mainly involved the Red Sea Colony, Belgium represented the Belgian Congo, Spain’s was the West Spanish Guinea, Darfur’s government was a puppet regime backed by East Africa, and the Southern German Kingdom and Abyssinia Empire maintained close ties with East Africa.

What these countries have in common is that they are all located around East Africa, and the central theme of this so-called international conference is the establishment of a Southeast African common market organization.

The conference officially started at nine in the morning.

Crown Prince Friedrich chaired the meeting, which allowed other delegate countries to sense some political signals from within East Africa, indicating that Crown Prince Friedrich might be increasingly involving himself in governmental affairs, much like Crown Prince Rudolph of Austria-Hungary.

Crown Prince Friedrich spoke: "East Africa has invited you all this time. I believe you should have a general understanding of the situation, which is to strengthen economic cooperation between the eastern and southern African regions, thus establishing a Southeast African common market for mutual exchange and common development among countries."

The so-called Southeast African common market, based on the current participating countries and regions, does appear somewhat modest, given that even with East Africa, the leader, there are only seven countries and regions.

However, these six countries and regions cover more than half of the area of Africa and have a total population close to 180 million.

And Friedrich stated: "Based on our countries’ current population growth, in a few years, the Southeast African common market will be a world-class market with a population exceeding 200 million, and it’s possible the regional population may even surpass 300 million in the future."

"And the reason for East Africa hosting the establishment of the Southeast African common market is to strengthen economic links between regional countries, thus driving economic development throughout the region."

"For example, both the Belgian Congo and Abyssinia Empire are important countries and regions within the area, but there is almost no economic and trade interaction between the two."

"In the common market, both parties can utilize this new platform to interact, with Belgian technology and capital flowing towards Abyssinia Empire, while Abyssinia Empire’s minerals and agricultural products can also find new avenues for sale."

Previously, there was essentially no interaction between Belgian Congo, Southern German Kingdom, Abyssinia Empire, Italian Red Sea Colony, and East Africa-supported Darfur Region.

Now, the proposal of the Southeast African common market can bring them together within one framework, promoting exchanges and development among the regions.

And why East Africa does this, one reason is it facilitates the integration of resources within the region, as these countries and regions are important neighbors to East Africa. To put it more bluntly, these areas are essentially East Africa’s backyard, so integrating this backyard is clearly an essential task for East Africa.

On the other hand, the construction of this common market helps stimulate economic development in East Africa’s northern area, which is its weakest economically.

Economic development first requires personnel and resources to move, and the above countries and regions are all connected to East Africa’s northern area.

Abyssinia Empire and Red Sea Colony are located in East Africa’s northern eastern part, Darfur is further north, while the other three countries and regions, namely the Southern German Kingdom, Belgian Congo, West Spanish Guinea, tend towards the west.

If trade among them strengthens, it will inevitably stimulate economic development in East Africa’s northern area, as the northern region is central to these countries and regions.

After all, commerce among them can only be achieved through the land-based transportation systems in East Africa’s northern region.

Thus, Friedrich stated: "With the help of the Empire’s rail and road network, especially the pan-Southeast African rail network that we are promoting, this solves the inter-country transportation difficulties."

"This, in turn, can open up the land trade and connecting channels between the Red Sea and Guinea Bay, significantly enhancing the convenience of exchanges between the Indian Ocean and Atlantic Ocean."

"These facilitate further market expansion for each country, like the Southern German Kingdom, which is located along the Guinea Bay coast in western Africa. This is favorable for exchanges with Atlantic Ocean countries, but not convenient for interactions with the Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean coastal regions. By joining the common market, they can leverage our East African railway, to transport goods via rail and road to Eastern African ports, and then export to more countries."