African Entrepreneurship Record

Chapter 1119: Chapter 128: Open Market

Looking back at the past life, any capable country would almost certainly focus on agricultural technology. For example, the United States in the past was not only the world’s largest user of pesticides and fertilizers, but also applied genetically modified technology in agriculture over forty percent, with various medications heavily used in the animal husbandry sector.

So it’s only natural for East Africa to consolidate its advantage in the agricultural field, with mechanization and various related agricultural technologies being the key focus areas for East Africa to conquer.

This has made East Africa become the world’s third largest agricultural research center, following Europe and America, and as the world’s only tropical powerhouse, East Africa’s focus in agricultural research is vastly different from that of Europe and America.

Take staple grains as an example; European and American countries would definitely lean towards the research of temperate agricultural products like wheat, while East Africa focuses on rice and other (sub)tropical agricultural products.

Andre said to He Bo and others: ”Before hybrid rice technology fully matures, as long as we do our job well, the future will surely open up new growth points for East African agriculture.”

”The drought-resistant characteristic of awned rice is what I value most; among the major rice-growing countries in the world, East Africa is a region with relatively low rainfall. Although our country has greatly improved its agricultural irrigation conditions through massive water conservancy projects, some areas are destined not to be solved solely by water conservancy construction.”

”Just like the natural climate with low precipitation west of Dodoma City, which cannot be changed by human efforts. If we can cultivate relatively drought-resistant rice varieties through hybrid technology, it will greatly enhance the agricultural planting conditions in our country’s arid or semi-arid areas.”

With Professor Andre’s explanation, members of the Luanda City Agricultural Research Institute, including He Bo, also realized the significant meaning of the work they are doing now.

The fact is, East Africa’s natural endowment for agriculture is the best on the African Continent, but to bridge the gap with Europe and America, it ultimately relies on technical proficiency.

Andre earnestly told them: ”Our country’s industrial and scientific development is very rapid, and the knowledge update cycle is fast too, so there is a lot of new knowledge for you to learn. Therefore, pay more attention to relevant domestic and international research, which will help you go further in the future.”

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Harare City.

With the implementation of the Three-Five Plan, Harare City, the most developed heavy industrial city in East Africa, is quietly undergoing a transformation.

As for Mbeya, which was originally the center of heavy industry in East Africa, it began its transition since the 1990s, and today it has become one of East Africa’s centers for research and academic exchanges. Moreover, with the transformation of industrial investment structures, Mbeya City has completely become a comprehensive city like Dar es Salaam City and Mombasa City, with almost no shortcomings.

However, Harare City, the most important heavy industrial city in East Africa, is now also facing transitional pressure. With the development of light industry becoming a national strategic priority, cities like Harare, which are heavily specialized, have clearly become a focal point in East Africa’s economic transition.

In 1911, the first move in Harare City’s reform was to initially open up certain investment fields in light industry.

It’s worth noting that, as a planned economy country, East Africa does not mean the wealth gap is small. East Africa provides quite high compensation for those who have contributed significantly to the country.

These people include government officials, researchers in scientific fields, military personnel, retired individuals, families of martyrs, nobles, etc.

In the past, East Africa primarily compensated these individuals through high stipends and social benefits, such as various forms of subsidies, stable wage sources, and material rewards distributed.

Thus, this group actually holds a considerable amount of social wealth, but in the past, East Africa almost monopolized most of the production materials, and their wealth could not be disseminated to the social level in the form of investment. Now, as East Africa begins to experimentally open up part of the investment market, this provides an opportunity for them.

Moreover, besides East African ”nobles”, ordinary East Africans actually have accumulated considerable wealth. East Africa’s salary levels are not low globally; with careful budgeting, many families generally have some savings.

Following the September 2, 1911 city government announcement in Harare City, many people saw an opportunity.

According to the announcement, Harare City will lift investment restrictions on over a hundred industries, including dining, accommodation, and garment-making, allowing private participation in business activities listed in the announcement.

Berlin State Restaurant in Harare City.

”Anka, are you really going to resign and start a business? Your culinary skills aren’t exactly great, and if it isn’t welcomed by the market, you could lose your job and miss out on a stable income.”

In the kitchen of the Berlin State Restaurant, Prussia Wang said to his apprentice Anka.

Anka: ”Master, I still want to give it a try. Although our earnings are steady at the state-run restaurant regardless of the weather, I believe that as long as I can provide better services, I will surely be able to quickly enter the dining market.”

Just like the Soviet Union or the Far East Empire in my previous life during special periods, East Africa’s catering industry is an oddly unique presence. Because of policy restrictions, there were virtually no private restaurant businesses in East Africa before.

This led to a lack of competition in the dining industry, various state-run restaurants and eateries had extremely poor service and casually prepared dish quality, and ordinary East African citizens had no additional choices.

Now that Harare City has lifted the restrictions on catering industry investment, it’s an opportunity in Anka’s eyes. Due to years of working, Anka doesn’t see much prospect in his future in the state-run restaurant.

As his master Prussia Wang said, Anka is considered less skilled among the apprentices taught by Prussia Wang, but ordinary people’s quest for taste isn’t that high.

Anka’s ability to work at Berlin State Restaurant proves that Anka has a decent foundation in cooking, after all, Berlin State Restaurant is one of only ten restaurants in Harare City. Those who can work in the kitchens of these state-run restaurants, even if their skills are not proficient, are much better than ordinary people.

Years of working experience has also given Anka a clear understanding of the poor service attitude in East African dining industry, and Anka sees this as a breakthrough point. If he can primarily market on service and pricing, he is sure he can establish foothold in the market, and as for poor tasting dishes, many people simply don’t have the ability to accurately judge.

Prussia Wang: ”Alright! Since you’ve decided, I won’t persuade you any further. If I were ten years younger, maybe I’d have the same entrepreneurial spirit as you youngsters.”

Anka said to his master: ”Thank you for understanding.”

Then Prussia Wang asked: ”Since you’ve decided to open your own shop, do you have enough money? Many resources in the market are still quite scarce, even for the simplest tables and chairs, you probably need special channels to purchase.”

Anka replied: ”I have considered this point, but with the recent relaxation in the economy, many carpenters have chosen to take up their old trade. A senior carpenter near my home plans to open a carpenter shop, I can source from him. As for funds, I have saved a little over the years, which should be able to support the initial preparations.”

Prussia Wang nodded and said: ”Good, if you truly lack money, you can talk to me. Your master has saved quite a lot over the years, and even encountering some troubles, I can help you solve them.”

As the head chef of the Berlin Restaurant, Prussia Wang’s salary is quite high, and he knows numerous dignitaries in Harare.

Anka was somewhat moved by his master’s concern, and he said: ”Master, rest assured, I know what to do. If I really encounter troubles I can’t solve, I can only ask you for help thick-faced!”

Prussia Wang said to Anka: ”Why say such silly things? There’s a saying in my hometown, ’a day as a master, lifelong as a father.’ You are my apprentice, so naturally caring for you is my duty. However, I also hope that after you venture out in your business, you won’t forget your original intention. If you can continue to carry forward our Huai Cuisine in Harare City, that would be even better.”