Matters of Money

[Batavië]

Scandinavian Occidental Hotel
Hilversum
Gauteng Province

Hosting the wealthy and industrialised Germanian and fellow Scandinavian governments and companies had become a normality in Batavië. At least once a week a report on btv would highlight the latest economic deal signed with Franken, Tyskreich, Arendaal, and so on and so forth. The images of men and women dressed in suits, riding in fancy black Wirbewegen cars and walking in and out of new office buildings was standard on the evening news and the daily papers. While Vlaanderen and Poortstad are the industrial and business centres of Batavië, Hilversum was also playing host to these one or two day meetings. The fact that the Northern Council, the region's principle economic integration group, was headquartered there made it an ideal meeting place. When finished with their bilateral meetings with the Batavian authorities, the foreigners could stop by the NC headquarters and speak with diplomats and power-brokers from 4 other regional governments and economies.

Today government and business officials alike from Wiese were having their meeting at the newly opened Scandinavian Occidental Hotel in downtown Hilversum, just a short tram ride away from the NC Tower in the Bloemhof district. Minister van Buitenlandse Zaken Arjan van Vliet was leading the delegation today. Wiese was considered always as an industrial power, nearby and with great potential for trade agreements.

Van Vliet greeted everyone personally as they entered the conference room and allowed them all to glance over the meeting agenda.

Free Trade Discussions
Production in Batavië (factories)
Poortstad Logistics and Shipping: the Gateway to Cathay
Other

'Meine Damen und Herren,' he began in just slightly accented German, 'Willkommen in Batawien.'

'The agenda is before all of you and, as is our custom, I invite our distinguished guests and friends to begin this meeting.'

 

[Wieserreich]

Scandinavian Occidental Hotel
Hilversum
Gauteng Province

The Imperial Ministry for Foreign Affairs had been spearheading contacts between Wieser and Batavian businesses and government departments for some time now. Although a late player in the Batavian deal, Wiese was aspiring to make financial gains much like the protestant north had made, with a greater touch of mutual win - if only because Wiese lacked the imperialist aspirations of other powers in Germania.

Sigmund Graf von Zahl, a quirky but successful diplomat who had recently been a member of the Wieser mission negotiating the Treaty of Preßburg with Danmark, Eiffelland and Wendmark. Zahl had great aspirations, and today was a great opportunity, as the licensed representative from Augsburg, to actually work something out that might give him a much-desired promotion under Babelfisch.

With Zahl came representatives from many big players headquartered in Wiese: KIW, KEF, MAN, WAIN, Thießen, Gieße Gruppe, Hersbach Gruppe, VWI, and others, most notably their several subsidiaries whenever applicable. The plan, today, was to set up a new, hopefully long-lasting international partnership that, upon the official birth of the Germanian League on 1 October, would provide a new source of wealth and prosperity.

"Herr van Vliet, on behalf of everyone here I would like to thank you for your invitation" von Zahl replied, standing up. The man was short -barely 154 cm tall- and with a very pale posture, a monocle and his antique-fashion clothes adding to the quirkiness. "It most certainly counts as a wonderful opportunity for the Batavian and the Imperial governments and people to build up a prospering new relationship."

The numerous businessmen and businesswomen present clapped with smiles. To them, politics weren't important; profits were. But since politics and profits often came together, they sheepishly tagged along and waited until it was their turn to speak. By the looks of the agenda, it wouldn't take too long before the Thießen or the MAN representative would be out there, saying something about investments and sales.

Zahl broke their train of thought as he started speaking again. "It is in the interest of both our countries to build and count a prospering and warm relationship. The recent licensing of the KEF to begin operations in Batavie counts for strong cooperation in the fields of energy and mining, and I hope this will be expanded on to industry and services as well. I counted several investors for various fields, who wish to enter the Batavian market" Zahl smiled.

"We already have the foundations for commerce as far as petroleum is concerned. It would be wonderful if we could further cooperate on the matter; while copper is also a lucrative resource of great importance. Batavia's agriculture is also of interest; these three are fields we could count upon, and set the grounds for a privileged commercial relationship with reduced trade tariffs upon each other. Of course, we could include Wieser manufactures and resources here as well."

The Count sat as he waited for a response.