Though agricultural development was the priority, other industries could also be set in motion, such as handicrafts and relatively basic manufacturing.
After all, East Africa's population was growing larger and larger. It could not possibly rely on imports for everything from pots and bowls to household goods; the expense would be terrifying.
Handicrafts were easy enough to understand. Blacksmith shops, tailor shops, carpentry... Industries that met the daily needs of East Africans could be opened up first.
Basic industry referred to industries suited to the current East African colony, with relatively low barriers to entry. For instance, the cement East Africa needed could not always be imported from Europe. To save costs, it would be better to build factories in East Africa.
Some processing industries capable of increasing the added value of East African agricultural products could also be introduced, such as flour mills, oil presses, textile mills, and so on.
And none of these factories could do without steam engines, so East Africa's domestic coal resources also needed to be developed. Once Mbeya's coal mines were developed, transporting coal to all parts of East Africa would place demands on transportation as well...
In short, it was a rather complicated process. There was no need to rush. They could complete it one task at a time. If it succeeded, it would merely be icing on the cake for East Africa at present; if it failed, there would be no great loss.
The arms industry was an important sector for guaranteeing the East African colony's security, second only to agriculture. Machines retired from European arms factories were currently being installed in the East African colony.
They could guarantee the supply of some weapons and ammunition. Once East Africa's regional resources were developed in the future, they could also use this foundation