Why should we develop manufacturing industry? Isn’t it good to be a comprador?
The office of the director of customs was crowded with businessmen who came to auction confiscated goods. There were so many people that it was difficult to find a place to stay. Everyone had to rub shoulders, say hello to each other, and seek some understanding.
Director Sanjar was sitting behind a large desk, which was quite spacious. He laughed and stroked his beard, and was very satisfied with the number of people who came to the auction.
There was a product catalog and the corresponding auction roster placed in front of the director's desk. While he was reading it, he talked about his feelings about the current economy.
"Americans have long moved their low-end manufacturing industries overseas, and Americans are not living well. Europeans don't like industries that are highly polluting, inefficient, and unprofitable, so they are looking for places to move them everywhere.
Now even the Japanese are moving away from those meaningless businesses. Are the Japanese stupid? I don’t think so. If you want to get rich, you have to abandon those useless things.
We have excellent ports and developed trade, which should vigorously develop the financial industry and tourism. This is called a 'smoke-free industry', which is highly efficient and pollution-free, and is especially suitable for us."
Director Sancar was talking. This scene was not like an auction at all, but rather like his personal preaching and propaganda session. He was talking about his "new economic thinking" and bluffing people who came to buy bargains.
He was stunned for a moment.
Ekrem was crowded among the crowd in the office, his mind full of questions. He thought he would be led to an auction site, where an auctioneer would raise a hammer, and there would be fierce bidding, making everyone blush.
But people who came to the auction were led to the director's office, crowded together like sardines, to listen to Director Sanjar's "personal views" on economic development.
What the hell is going on here?
Ekrem hugged the leather bag in his hand tightly, which contained hundreds of thousands of dollars in banknotes. This auction required on-site cash transactions, forcing everyone to guard their bags like misers at all times.
Director Sanjar paused and asked, "Do you think what I said is right?"
There was a buzz of agreement in the office immediately, and everyone kept nodding and saying, "Yes, yes, yes," "The director said it well," and "A business that does not make money is indeed meaningless."
After being praised by everyone, the Director scratched his head in embarrassment and said with a smile: "This is actually not my point of view, but the recent research results of many European economists.
By summarizing the laws of economic development in the past few hundred years, professors in Oxford, England, have reached relevant conclusions. They believe that the international market is fully competitive and has sufficient production capacity to meet demand.
We don’t need to produce worthless things like shoes and socks. Even food can be imported from abroad. This is cheaper than producing it ourselves. For example, the United States has sufficient food and can supply the whole world.
Each country should develop its own industry. For example, Egypt is suitable for growing cotton, so they changed their wheat fields to cotton fields and relied on imported food. They are now living well.
We should develop more animal husbandry, replace farmland with pasture, and replace grain with cashmere. This will make more money, don’t you think?"
This was a bit counter-intuitive, but there were still gasps of admiration in the office.
‘Director, your views are so correct’, ‘Sir Sanjar, you are an economist’, ‘This view should be published in newspapers, it will definitely gain more recognition’.
In the office, everyone was thinking: ‘Why hasn’t the auction started yet?’ ‘What the hell are you talking about?’ ‘Corrupt bureaucrats are making weird remarks again.’
But everyone had smiles on their faces and kept trying to please the talkative director.
Director Sanjar talked for more than an hour, which made the legs of everyone who came to the auction sore and their waists unable to hold up. But everyone had no choice but to hold on.
The director was enjoying the conversation until he felt his mouth was dry, then he grabbed the inventory and roster at hand and called everyone by name: "Ekrem, are you here?"
"Sir, I'm here." Ekrem was old and couldn't straighten his waist after standing for a long time. He squeezed through the crowd, hunched over to relieve the pain in his back, and walked to the director's desk.
This 'respectful' attitude made Director Sanjar very happy. He casually pulled out an auction confirmation form on the table, filled in Ekrem's name, then filled in the order number and amount of the confiscated auction, and finally signed
Add your name and seal.
"Take it. After you pay the money, you can go to the warehouse to pick up the goods." The director waved his hand and handed the confirmation letter to Ecorem. "Now these goods are legal and can be sold normally."
The owner of the garment factory looked at the confirmation letter and quickly targeted the auction amount. He immediately felt that his waist was not sore and his legs were not hurting. He wished he could continue to listen to Director Sanjar's nonsense.
The auction price has always been higher and higher, but today there was no process at all. I just listened to the "lecture" for a long time, and the auction amount was actually discounted by 20%!
"Sir Sanjar, you are really a knowledgeable economist. Your views have revealed my long-standing doubts.
I will definitely introduce your research results to the friends I know. There is really no need to retain low-end manufacturing. Your point of view is so correct."
The office was crowded, and what was written on Ecorem's confirmation form was seen by several pairs of eyes nearby. When Director Sanjar read the next name, a louder guy immediately jumped out and shouted.
"Your Excellency Sanjar, I have a friend who is engaged in the media industry. Can you allow me to introduce him to interview you? Your views are very instructive for the economic development of our country and need to be well publicized."
Hahaha... The director laughed louder, but still said a few words modestly, "What I just said is not my personal research. In fact, I heard it when I had dinner with the mayor a few days ago."
"Is it the mayor who is promoting this advanced concept?"
"It was promoted by a visiting scholar from the United States at Istanbul University. He talked about the internal economic cooperation of NATO countries, one of which is that each country develops its own advantageous industries and exchanges what is needed."
Wow...the admiration sounded again.
Ekrem got the auction confirmation and immediately exited the director's office. He didn't want to hear that ignorant guy spouting shit, he just wanted to buy the confiscated goods quickly.
If you match the left and right shoes, you will get the money.
But when the money was really earned, Ecorem suddenly felt that Director Sanjar's remarks might actually be somewhat correct. He was tired of working hard to run the factory, and he was taking a lot of risks but still making little money.
It is indeed easier to develop the financial industry and tourism industry in a trading port. Even if you can't do finance, it is much easier to be a comprador.
If you don’t have enough light industrial products, just buy them from China. If you don’t have enough agricultural products, just buy them from the United States. Since you can’t compete anyway, why bother trying? Just sit back and forget about it.