African Entrepreneurship Record

Chapter 1435: Chapter 14: Deberne’s Ambition_2

”In terms of the third industry, an area with a poor ecological environment will clearly have a negative impact on the local commerce, service industry, tourism, etc. After all, under the trend of increasingly prominent environmental awareness, if Kitwe City’s natural environment further deteriorates, it will inevitably reduce the flow of external capital, population, and advanced industries and research resources into our city.”

This is also quite understandable. Compared to other countries in the world, although East Africa’s environmental awareness is not particularly deep, it is far ahead compared to other industrial countries.

In cities like London, Paris, New York, some people are still proud of industrial wastewater and exhaust gases, symbols of ”industrial civilization.” At least most people in East Africa know these are harmful to health.

If Kitwe City’s environment does not improve, people who care about their health will clearly not regard Kitwe City as a place to settle for long. Population loss will further lead to the shrinkage of the local market, and this shrinkage will further push population outflow, forming a vicious cycle.

In the end, if not forced by life circumstances, ordinary people will still yearn for green mountains and clear waters. It’s just that most countries in the world have not yet developed to that level economically.

At the beginning of the 20th century, most of the world’s population was struggling on the subsistence line, focusing less on the quality of life for survival’s sake.

In Deberne’s view, Kitwe City clearly cannot follow the trend. After all, Kitwe City is considered an industrially relatively developed region in the world, and its economic level has reached a critical point.

Therefore, Deberne believes that, at least in economically developed areas like the Copperbelt region, basic subsistence issues no longer exist, and some people already have the ability to pursue a higher quality of life.

Moreover, given the current development trend in East Africa, the national economic level will further improve. In the future, the third industry might surpass the second industry, becoming a pillar of the national economy.

And if we want to develop the third industry, we must seize opportunities and make timely arrangements. At least regarding the ecological environment, Kitwe City should be ahead of other industrial cities in East Africa, transforming Kitwe City into a place with green mountains and clear waters.

Of course, Deberne clearly has deeper considerations. Based on his observations and reflections, the Copperbelt region, due to industrial homogeneity, has long pursued growth in industrial output while neglecting development in other fields.

Even Lubumbashi, which currently economically overshadows Kitwe City, is the same. Although Lubumbashi has much better innate qualities than Kitwe, precisely because of this, Lubumbashi’s sense of crisis is somewhat lower than that of Kitwe City.

Regarding this, Deberne said: ”In the Copperbelt region, all industrial towns have long developed heavy industry, focusing on industrial output while neglecting development in other fields. But based on my personal observation, the country’s economy has already seen new changes.”

”Especially in the Copperbelt region, which belongs to the upper middle ranks of the national economy. While the industry might not be number one, it ranks at the forefront, being able to squeeze into the top three in the central region.”

”However, our Copperbelt region lacks cities with a relatively high national and global profile, and even Lubumbashi is no exception.”

”Although Lubumbashi is one of the top ten largest cities nationally, its fame might not surpass cities like Maputo and Benguela, and only slightly higher than our Kitwe City, primarily because of its status as a provincial capital and economically developed city.”

”The entire Copperbelt region lacks landmark cities, lacking domestic and international recognition, lacking a high-end consumption and service industry center, lacking a tourism center city, with an ecological environment that is even more deplorable.”

”You know, the Copperbelt region’s economy and people’s consumption ability are still quite good, but wealthy people prefer to vacation, tour, and spend in other regions, such as New Frankfurt City, Rhein City, etc.”

”Rhein City is the capital, so it’s understandable, but New Frankfurt City is not much more economically developed than Lubumbashi. The two can be considered cities of the same tier, yet Lubumbashi’s people prefer to go to New Frankfurt City for shopping, vacationing, and consuming.”

”What is the reason behind this? Why isn’t it the other way around, with New Frankfurt attracting people from Lubumbashi?”

Deberne also provided the answer: ”That’s because compared to New Frankfurt City, Lubumbashi can be described as a city without characteristics, and its environment is poor. Would anyone willingly go to Lubumbashi if not for work-related reasons?”

”Of course, our Kitwe City is even more so, with average economic levels, poor ecological environment, average commercial environment, low service industry standards, lack of recognition, etc.”

”It can be said that our situation is worse than Lubumbashi’s. Apart from people engaged in the non-ferrous metal industry and specific sectors, we find it hard to attract population and other businesses.”

”So, knowing this situation, we must make changes, and the phrase goes, look a bit farther ahead. The first step is to take advantage of this industry adjustment opportunity to rectify our city’s ecological issues.”

”Our city has mountains and waters, plains and marshes, located at the intersection of rainforest and savanna. This is our city’s invaluable asset and natural advantage.”