"At present, our railways are extensive but not strong. Many cutting-edge technologies still depend on foreign countries. Of course, the Ministry of Railways is now actively promoting the training of railway personnel and tackling various technical challenges. It is estimated that we will only need twenty to thirty years to catch up with international standards," Andre said.
Ernst said, "Technology is a process of accumulation; it cannot be achieved in a single stroke. We must proceed steadily and surely in this matter—there are no shortcuts. At the same time, I hope the railway sector will do the same. The subordinate units must not seek convenience at times. The idea that buying is better than making is absolutely unacceptable. We must ultimately stand on our own feet."
Of course, Ernst was only saying that. In reality, during the nineteenth century, buying was the fastest way to break through technological barriers. Otherwise, East Africa could never have developed to where it was today.
Of course, buying was also a technical skill. One had to understand the technology, or one could be fooled and merely waste time and money for nothing.
Besides buying technology, the other route to acquiring it was "copying." These two were currently the magic weapons behind the rapid development of East African industry.
"Railway distribution is now uneven, which is a very great obstacle to our country's development. This is especially true in the newly added territories, where railway networks must also be rebuilt. This will be one of the key focuses of development over the next decade," Ernst said.
"Our country has a short history and a weak foundation, so railway development began late. Based on railway development abroad, it is estimated that East Africa must build at least forty thousand kilometers of railway over the next ten