"Welcome, Your Majesty, to inspect our factory!"
The director of Harare City's chromium ore plant personally led the management in welcoming Constantin's arrival. At Constantin's request, the plant had continued operating rather than shutting down because of the King's visit.
Black smoke billowed into the sky, while transport vehicles streamed back and forth, displaying the bustle of this suburban factory. Having received prior notice, the workers toiled even harder than usual.
In Constantin's eyes, this factory was unexpectedly far smaller than the Tobacco Factory. That did not match his understanding of industrial and mining enterprises.
Thus, Constantin asked Gleining, the senior Matabele Province official accompanying him, "Why is the Tobacco Factory so much larger than the chromium ore plant? The equipment is much the same."
"Your Majesty, this is due to demand. At present, the most valuable industry in Matabele Province is probably the tobacco industry. I do not mean in terms of scale, but net profit. Matabele Province's tobacco output accounts for roughly thirty percent of East Africa's total. That is no small figure, and it still has room to grow. Thanks to the unique advantages of our province, that share may exceed sixty percent in the future."
Gleining continued, "And as the tobacco-processing center of Matabele Province, Harare city bears an important responsibility. Our city supplies nearly forty-six percent of East Africa's tobacco exports."
Constantin seemed to understand. "You mean the market determines the scale of Harare city's Tobacco Factory?"
"Exactly, Your Majesty. Only demand can determine the scale of investment; otherwise, everything is merely castles in the air. Besides, the Tobacco Factory is now under the Ministry of Industry's jurisdiction. We mainly serve in supervisory and supporting roles."
Constantin no longer dwelled on the matter, but he still felt that the chromium ore plant was far too