Greece’s Roman Road

There is a party going on in the garden of Tatoi Palace.

The elites of the industrial and commercial classes of Greece gathered in twos and threes and whispered.

"Why, this cotton textile factory has just been put into operation, so the dye business has just started." Constantine looked at Cantoriotis in surprise.

"Hey, Your Highness, did you know that our cotton cloths are shipped to Ottoman Turkey with only 8% tariffs?" Although Cantoriotis lowered his voice, he couldn't hide his excitement.

Ottoman Turkey's tariff, due to pressure from European countries, has been maintained at 8% for a long time. This tariff level is simply not enough to protect the development of Ottoman Turkey's domestic industry.

You must know that the rising stars of industrial countries, Germany and the United States, have repeatedly raised import tariffs on industrial products in order to develop their own industries.

As the pioneers of the industrial revolution, Britain and France have completed the first industrial revolution successively, and their production capacity has been greatly improved. Whether it is Germany or the United States, in the late 19th century, they tacitly raised tariffs and escorted their own industrial development. .

The tariffs between the two countries in the middle and late 19th century reached a height of more than 40%.

Compared with this tariff level, Ottoman's 8% tariff is really low enough.

The Ottoman Empire's industry has been slow to develop and grow, and this low level of tariffs is a great contribution.

This also caused the Ottomans to import a large number of goods from European countries, and the trade deficit was serious, which has been in a state of excess, resulting in a decrease in the currency circulating in the market.

"Those European, especially British and French cotton merchants, are not as competitive as us at all"

Long-term trade exchanges with Europe, the farmers of the Ottoman Empire also recognized the benefits of growing cash crops, such as the Mediterranean coast of Asia Minor, planted large areas of cotton.

These cottons are generally purchased by British and French merchants, processed into cotton cloth, and then sold to Turkey.

However, due to the problem of distance, Turkey and Greece are only separated by the Aegean Sea. This round-trip journey is much closer than that of Britain and France.

"Your Excellency, you said, if we were to seize the cotton cloth market in Ottoman Turkey, this would be a huge deal." Speaking of excitement, Cantoriotis rubbed his hands back and forth.

"At that time, the Turks will use cotton cloth produced in Greece for their heads and robes."

"For such a large business, the only problem is the dye problem. Now Greece hardly produces it, and it is all imported from abroad, and the cost is not small."

Constantine looked at Cantoriotis with a dumbfounded smile, this man can really imagine.

Just by virtue of the political influence of Britain and France in Turkey, it is impossible for Greece to monopolize the cotton cloth market in Ottoman Turkey.

"You have to know that the production of dyes requires a deep chemical industry, and Greece is completely blank in this regard," Constantine said, looking at Cantoriotis, who had a regretful expression on his face.

"It's blank now, and it won't be blank in two days."

Looking at Cantoriotis' mean expression, Constantine thought of Nobel.

As for why Nobel, who is engaged in the explosives business, is involved with dyes, it is a long story.

Explosives and dyes, as well as medicine, all have one thing in common, and that is the driving force for the development of the chemical industry in modern Europe.

For example, picric acid dynamite, which was first used as a synthetic dye, appeared in people's field of vision, until one day, an unlucky worker hit an iron jar containing picric acid with a hammer, As a result, there was an explosion, and everyone realized that this thing can also be used as explosives.

There is also sulfonamide, which was originally known as a dye. German chemists accidentally discovered that sulfonamide has anti-inflammatory and bactericidal effects and is the first anti-inflammatory drug used by humans.

Therefore, since Nobel can produce explosives, dyes are naturally no longer a problem.

It seems that Cantoriotis has received news that Nobel will come to Athens to open a factory.

Think about it, Cantoriotis’ idea is not bad. Since he decided to develop the textile industry, he should clean up the industrial chain, from the spinning of raw cotton, to weaving, dyeing, and even making clothes, and then Coupled with dye production, such a one-stop industrial chain, each joint can provide many jobs for Greece.

With the exception of textile machines that Greece cannot produce yet, the industry has almost eaten through it.

"Since you are interested, after Mr. Nobel comes to visit, you can try to persuade him to set up a factory in Greece to produce explosives and dyes."

"I think it's not just explosives and dyes. Since Mr. Nobel is in the chemical industry, he can also be allowed to produce some basic chemical industry raw materials, such as caustic soda."

"This is what our soap factory needs, and so far it's imported in large quantities from Europe."

Suddenly someone interrupted, and Constantine looked up and saw Costebro.

Costerbloom saw the two talking about the chemical industry and joined the conversation.

The head office of the Greek Congo has planted a lot of palm trees in the Republic of Congo. As the general manager, in order to increase profits, Costerbloom simply built a soap factory in Greece, using the company's palm oil as raw material.

"Since that's the case, let's wait until Nobel arrives and discuss it together."

Immediately afterwards, everyone gathered together, the manager of the steel plant Skaloy, the manager of the artemisinin plant Nina, Tesla, Alexandros and others, and the industrial and commercial operators of Greece almost gathered together~www.wuxiax .com~ This is what Constantine did on purpose, after all, he didn't want to give the stereotype that the prince of Greece was just a soldier.

He needs to give the people of Greece, especially the upper class of Greece, a positive and progressive image. He is an enlightened person.

Seeing everyone gathered together, Constantine took the time to say, "Since everyone is here, then I'll tell you the most important thing."

"I decided to open a machinery factory under the name of the steel factory. As for the initial product, it is to produce bicycles," Constantine said to the gathered crowd.

"You also know that a bicycle is a very complex industrial product, which requires everyone's cooperation."

If in the 21st century, some people say that bicycles are a complex industrial product, people will scoff at what kind of complex industrial products a bicycle is.

But for Greece, which had a weak industrial base at this time, to be able to produce bicycles, Constantine was very satisfied.

First of all, such an industrial product can connect various factories in Greece in series.

For example, in the rubber industry, vulcanized rubber is used to make tires, which requires the use of Congolese rubber.

Steel is used to make bicycle frames, and special steel is used for bearings.

Although it is an industrial product with few parts, it is very suitable for Greece, which opened the beginning of the development of machinery.

Due to the recent large-scale road construction in Greece, it has provided a large market for bicycles.

"Costeble, your Greek Congo head office is considering building a vulcanized rubber factory. Now almost all of Greece's tires are imported. Would your Greek Congo head office rubber planters be willing to be a raw material supplier?"

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