Three-Year Industrial Plan

Australia's reputation as a nation sitting on a mining cart is no exaggeration. While the major mineral deposits that would later make Australia famous haven't been discovered yet, its proven mineral resources are still substantial.

Iron ore and coal, essential for industrial development, have been found in several locations in Australia's uninhabited western regions, with total reserves reaching 360 million tons and 1.9 billion tons, respectively.

While these figures may seem enormous at first glance, they are merely a fraction of Australia's later proven reserves of 15 billion tons of iron ore and 900 billion tons of coal.

However, compared to other countries at this time, Australia's already proven mineral resources are vast.

Even based on the current steel production of the British Empire, Australia's iron ore would be sufficient to supply Britain for thirteen years.

Although the British Empire's steel production will not remain static, it would take Australia several years, perhaps even a decade, to catch up to Britain's steel output.

This means that even if Australia were to go all out to develop its industry, there would be no shortage of mineral resources for over a decade.

Indeed, as a nation rich in mineral resources, Australia's only limitations will always be capital, equipment, and talent, not the ubiquitous minerals themselves.

"Minister Pierre, elaborate on your plan." Pierre Silvio Berlusconi's proposal aligned with Arthur's intentions, so Arthur asked Minister Pierre with some interest.

"Your Highness, our uninhabited western regions hold abundant mineral resources, with coal and iron ore being crucial for industrial development. I propose that we first establish large-scale industrial production bases in the western uninhabited areas. Utilizing the equipment you provided, we can increase our steel output to at least 100,000 tons and 200,000 tons within three years. Simultaneously, we will use the steel produced to lay railways between the western industrial zone and our cities, building a transportation network. After three years, once our steel production reaches a new level, we can then pursue technological industries." Seeing Arthur's interest in his proposal, Minister Pierre's voice grew louder.

"Minister Pierre, your plan is to prioritize increasing steel production first, and other matters can be set aside for now, is that correct?" Arthur asked with a smile.

Increasing steel production might be difficult for other underdeveloped nations, but for Australia, it is quite straightforward.

Australia possesses industrial equipment worth fifty million pounds sterling from Britain. Arthur meticulously selected this equipment, which includes basic industrial machinery like steel furnaces.

This advantage allows Australia to quickly master the use of this industrial equipment. Once fully assimilated and utilized effectively, Australia could rank among the world's top twenty industrial nations.

"No, Your Highness. My proposal is that we should prioritize the development of basic industries, including steel mills. This does not mean we will abandon other industrial developments in the short term. I believe Australia's ultimate industrial goal is to achieve independent research and production, forming a complete industrial ecosystem. I believe that for technological industries, including munitions factories and shipyards, our ultimate goal should be independent research and development and production. Therefore, while developing basic industries, we need to attract a large number of talents from Europe to fill the talent gap caused by our underdeveloped educational foundation. From an industrial perspective, industrial development and talent attraction must proceed simultaneously," Minister Pierre stated.

Compared to other nations seeking development, Australia has significant advantages.

Due to the shared ethnicity and its geographical distance from Europe, Australia has minimal conflicts with European countries, allowing it to attract advanced technology and talent from various European nations.

What Minister Pierre is essentially advocating for is for Australia to possess the capability for independent research and development of advanced technologies and equipment in the future, rather than solely relying on imports from Europe.

This necessitates attracting a substantial number of talents from Europe; otherwise, independent research would remain an empty phrase.

Arthur nodded. Minister Pierre, having been a talent dispatched from the British Empire to Australia, possessed considerable capabilities.

If acquiring equipment to develop basic industries represents securing the present, then attracting talent to enhance research and development capabilities is about striving for the future.

For a nation aspiring to rise and even dominate a region, independent research and development capabilities in science and technology are indispensable.

If a nation's advanced industrial products can only be imported, then even if it significantly enhances its strength by importing a large amount of advanced equipment, it will ultimately remain dependent on others and cannot truly become a powerful nation.

"Minister Pierre, what are our current steel production figures?" Arthur inquired.

It must be said that the colonial era was also the period of greatest disparity between Western nations and underdeveloped countries.

While Western countries were already producing over a million, even tens of millions, of tons of steel, the island nation that would later ascend to the ranks of great powers through its Meiji Restoration had a steel output of just over a thousand tons.

Australia's situation was slightly better, but only slightly. Due to its abundant iron and coal resources, Britain had established small-scale steel mills in Australia.

"Your Highness, last year, the annual steel output of the six states was approximately 3,700 tons, with a pig iron output of 5,000 tons," Minister Pierre replied without hesitation.

These figures were the actual data for Australia that he had gathered within the past week. Knowing that these figures might be used, Minister Pierre had memorized them thoroughly.

"I will give you three years. Can you triple Australia's steel production every year?" Arthur asked, looking at the confident Minister Pierre with a smile.

Tripling production every year is no easy feat. While the first year might be manageable, the difficulty increases exponentially in the second year.

Triple of 5,000 tons of pig iron is 15,000 tons, and triple of 15,000 tons would be 45,000 tons.

Not to mention the final year, where tripling 45,000 tons would reach nearly 140,000 tons, bringing the total steel output to around 250,000 tons.

"No problem, Your Highness! As long as you provide me with sufficient funds and equipment, I guarantee to triple the steel production every year within these three years," Minister Pierre answered decisively without hesitation.

Second update, seeking support!