In fact, before the First World War, Russia's railway network had already covered the surrounding countries and regions as extensively as possible, including the Far East Empire, Persia, Central Asia, and parts of Eastern Europe.
East Africa did not have such conditions. If East Africa wanted to further extend its railway network across Africa, only West Africa offered much room for achievement.
To the north lay the Sahara Desert, while to the south there remained only a small patch of Britain's South African colony.
However, because of the Gulf of Guinea, sea transport was more cost-effective than rail for exchanges and trade between East Africa and West Africa. East Africa could exert significant influence over West Africa without railways.
The focus shifted to Kitwe City in the Copperbelt.
A year had passed since Kitwe City began its economic transformation, but its path of transformation had not been smooth sailing.
After all, accustomed as they were to a long-term command economy, many East African officials had yet to adapt to the rules and methods of a market economy. By the same token, the Kitwe City government was bound to feel lost when it came to reform.
Kitwe City had introduced some reform measures and policies that better matched its actual circumstances, but either they were difficult to show results in the short term, or their enormous funding requirements kept them from getting underway.
So, was there a good economic project that could show quick results, that Kitwe City could afford, and that could meet all aspects of the city's economic development needs?
After more than a year of exploration, Kitwe City's mayor, Debern, had indeed found a shortcut to development: the film and television industry.
"The film and television industry is an entirely emerging industry. It appeared much later than