The rise of great powers: starting from military industry

"Let's talk about it." Zhang Zhen, as the person in charge of the Fifth Machinery Department, looked around at the others.

This matter is not a trivial matter, and he cannot make a direct decision.

Only after reaching an internal consensus can we decide how to deal with it.

Wang Baoguo was the first to say, "I think this is a good thing. This is a large order worth US$24.67 million and will create a precedent for our export trade of military weapons and equipment."

"At the beginning of the year, the superiors requested that free military assistance to foreign countries should no longer be provided and should be changed from free to paid. At last year's meeting, the superiors had already set a strategy for internal reform and external development, with economic construction as the centerpiece. This time Comrade Liu Tao talked about This order can be used as a pilot and exploration.”

"Didn't the leader say that reform is about crossing the river by feeling for the stones? Making mistakes is not something to be afraid of, but what is afraid of is not daring to make mistakes." Wang Baoguo had a clear attitude and supported Liu Tao.

After all, Liu Tao is one of his own, and Wang Baoguo is also very optimistic about Liu Tao. Besides, this order is correct no matter how you look at it.

"10% remuneration, there has never been such a precedent before, is it inappropriate? After all, it involves more than 2 million US dollars." A leader frowned.

When Liu Tao reported, he clearly reported the need to give the other party a 10% rebate.

After all, if this kind of thing is not explained clearly first, there will be a lot of trouble later.

Liu Tao said, "Leader, can I interrupt?"

"Comrade Liu Tao, please speak." Zhang Zhen motioned for Liu Tao to speak.

"Dear leaders, in the international market, it is common practice to give rebates for arms trade. The normal ratio is 20%. The ratio can be as high as our neighbor Third Brother, the ratio can reach 50%." Liu Tao said: "10% rebate, and Not high, relatively low.”

Think about the 21st century. The third brother purchased 36 Rafale fighter jets for a total amount of US$8.8 billion, and the unit price was as high as nearly US$250 million, which was US$100 million more expensive than the top models of the American F-35B and F-35C. At that time, Egypt The unit price of purchasing Rafale is only half of that.

If there is no benefit transfer here, then it will really be damned.

One can imagine how high the rebates from the arms trade are.

"This..." The leader who was disgusted with giving kickbacks felt that his three views had been subverted.

"Since it is customary, just give what is due. There is nothing to say." Zhang Zhen said.

"Foreign exchange trading accounts are a big problem. Panshan Machinery Factory is not qualified according to regulations, and even the Yunnan Provincial Defense Management Office is not qualified." Another leader raised a question, "If we dig deeper, Panshan Machinery Factory , even the Yunnan Provincial Defense Management Office is not qualified to export.”

Liu Tao looked helpless.

This is the status quo of this era.

Even if he did it and did it privately, it would not be truly legal and compliant, but would be a sidestep.

"It's simple. Don't we have accounts in the ministry? Now we are also short of foreign exchange." A leader said.

"No, this is inappropriate!" Another leader shook his head and said: "This transaction is not suitable for us, and the account is naturally not suitable. Besides, Panshan Machinery Factory is under the jurisdiction of the Yun Provincial Defense Management Office, not us. Direct jurisdiction.”

Wang Baoguo frowned and said, "I have a suggestion. Let's see if it works. That is to grant an account to Panshan Machinery Factory for transactions. However, Panshan Machinery Factory is not allowed to use foreign exchange at will. How about that?"

"This is feasible." Zhang Zhen nodded.

To specially approve an account, you only need to strengthen supervision.

"I have a question. Can Panshan Machinery Factory complete such a large number of orders? After all, there are still many troops on the front line waiting to be replaced." A leader raised a question.

It is urgent for frontline troops to change their uniforms.

Although the "Red Dragon's Roar" military operation has ended, it is urgent for the troops to change their equipment. After all, another battle may break out at any time.

Liu Tao stood up again and replied, "I think this is not a problem. Our Panshan Machinery Factory has now coordinated technical personnel from other third-tier factories to the Panshan Machinery Factory by the Yunnan Provincial Defense Management Office. Our production capacity will be further increased to complete this task." There is no problem with placing an order.”

Simply based on the original production capacity of Panshan Machinery Factory, it is naturally impossible to complete the order.

But when Liu Tao left Panshan Machinery Factory, the first batch of 100 workers had already arrived at Panshan Machinery Factory.

After Liu Tao returns, he will assemble the production line, and the production capacity will naturally increase.

The meeting lasted for more than an hour, and finally reached a consensus to support Liu Tao in completing the order.

Then the Fifth Machinery Department came forward and approved a special account for Panshan Machinery Factory. In the evening, with the assistance of the foreign affairs department, the order contract was drawn up.

No. 25, Xiushui North Street.

"Mr. Al, Major Rashid, happy to cooperate!" Liu Tao stretched out his hand.

"Mr. Liu Tao, happy to cooperate!"

Al and Rashid had smiles on their faces and shook hands with Liu Tao.

The order contract is signed and the account number is established.

To celebrate this cooperation, Al held a cocktail reception.

When Liu Tao left Xiushui North Street, he was already slightly drunk.

At five o'clock in the afternoon, Bank of China staff were getting ready to get off work.

At this time, a large amount of U.S. dollars was remitted to the account of Panshan Machinery Factory. The amount of U.S. dollars remitted shocked the Bank of China employees who had seen the scene. What exactly did Panshan Machinery Factory do?

Since the beginning of the year, Bank of China has become a state-designated specialized bank for foreign exchange and foreign trade.

The staff quickly reported to the leader.

"What? US$12.5 million in foreign exchange has arrived?"

"Is it sent from Iraq?"

"To Panshan Machinery Factory? Which unit is Panshan Machinery Factory!?"

Listening to the staff’s reports, the leader was stunned!

He kept thinking in his mind, but he never thought about which company Panshan Machinery Factory was.

In this era, China has very few state-owned units that can export and earn foreign exchange, and there is no doubt that they are all large state-owned units.

As for private enterprises, there are no private enterprises at all in this era, not even self-employed individuals.

Either a state-owned enterprise or a collective enterprise!

After a long time, the leader finally came to his senses.

The smile on his face can't stop. No matter which unit earns foreign exchange, in the final analysis, the US dollars will stay in the bank.

What is currently implemented is the foreign exchange retention system, which means that brilliant enterprises are forced to settle foreign exchange after earning foreign exchange through exports. Except for foreign-funded enterprises and some domestic enterprises, the foreign exchange income earned from the current accounts of enterprises and residents must be sold to designated banks, and the enterprises shall pay a certain proportion. Foreign exchange is retained and the remaining foreign exchange belongs to the state.

The reason for doing this is to support the country's centralized use of foreign exchange funds and alleviate the shortage of foreign exchange funds!

There is no way, because the country's foreign exchange is too little, and there are too many units that need to use foreign exchange.

If we don't do this, the country's foreign exchange reserves will be exhausted in a few months, or even become negative.

Now the leaders want to know how much foreign exchange can be sold to banks, preferably 100%!

What banks are short of is foreign exchange, not RMB!

He picked up the phone and started checking Panshan Machinery Factory.