Chapter 447 The Beginning of Large-Scale Investment in Singapore

Chapter 447 The Beginning of Large-Scale Investment in Singapore

Chapter 447 The Beginning of Large-Scale Investment in Singapore

After listening to this, Director Li seemed to fall into deep thought.

Yang Wendong did not say anything else. He guessed that he was right. When knowing that Singapore had borrowed money from an international bank, anyone with a bit of political sensitivity would know that there would be political conditions.

Of course, Singapore’s loans are not just about container terminals, but also about other areas, such as transportation, education, medical care, people’s livelihood, etc. Yang Wendong has no control over other aspects and does not want to control them. Even if he has the ability, he cannot completely block other people’s "business."

It’s enough, a pier, not too much or too little, and it’s also a normal investment for you.

After a while, Director Li said, "Mr. Yang, this matter involves many important factors. I also need to discuss it with others, but I want to confirm that you have no problem with the funds. The investment in this dock requires tens of millions of dollars."

"I know." Yang Wendong said with a smile: "The wharf does require a lot of investment, but I also have a number of international banks that I have cooperated with many times and can participate in this financing demand. Mr. Li should also understand this.

As long as you have this intention, I will contact these banks and seek financial cooperation. Once the project is confirmed, there will naturally be no problem. "

Since he was preparing to move out of Hong Kong, he naturally needed the help of overseas banks. Therefore, during this period of time, he had specially managed the relationship with Citibank, Standard Chartered and even some Japanese banks, just waiting for the possible cooperation today. Even if there was no dock, there were other aspects.

"Okay, I need to discuss this with others. I will inform you as soon as there is a result." Director Li naturally couldn't give an answer now, and then asked: "Mr. Yang, the infrastructure is indeed not perfect at present, but it is not a big problem. Can you tell me your second factor?"

Yang Wendong also knew that the dock issue could not be settled immediately, so he replied: "The second aspect is naturally the most basic livelihood, that is, sufficient employment. Singapore today is actually very similar to Hong Kong 10 years ago. A large number of ordinary people are unemployed;

If these people are unemployed, they will become a factor of social instability, and if too many people are unemployed, it will also have a great impact on local economic development.”

Singapore's economy was very poor 65 years ago. The fundamental reason was some deliberately disgusting actions of the British. It was similar to Hong Kong before 1997. Of course, it was also because the political situation was still unstable, so overseas capital was reluctant to invest and local capital only wanted to transfer.

Director Li agreed and said, “Yes, I also plan to focus on developing light industry and learn from Hong Kong’s development process, but I also need the help of overseas capital, so I also hope to reach a cooperation with Mr. Yang;

I also know that Mr. Yang’s company invested in a lot of cinema properties in Singapore last year. This is easy to say, but it would be even better if there could be some factory cooperation.”

"I am indeed considering investing in a factory in Singapore," Yang Wendong nodded.

If you want to invest in someone else's dock, you naturally have to give something extra. Your own factory is a bargaining chip. Although you also need Singapore as a production base, on the other hand, if Singapore wants to solve employment and economic problems, it also needs factories like Changxing Industrial.

Director Li asked with a smile: "What kind of factory will Mr. Yang invest in? How many jobs can it create?"

"It's mainly plastics, including suitcases, hooks, and storage boxes," Yang Wendong replied. "According to the plan, the first phase is expected to create 2000 jobs. The specific situation will depend on the production conditions and various factors of the factory."

2000 is just the beginning. With Changxing Industrial's current growth rate and the products that will be launched in the future, it is possible to reach more than .

But since they are bargaining chips, we have to proceed step by step. It is impossible to use a trump card at the beginning.

"2000?" Director Li was naturally overjoyed, but he still said without changing his expression: "If Mr. Yang needs anything, you can tell me at any time."

Singapore's total population is only 200 million, and 2000 people are employed, which is 0.1%. This proportion may not seem high, but it is a very good result for the country's employment probability;

And this is just direct employment. After a large manufacturing plant is established, many suppliers will appear, and the income of these employees will also drive the nearby service industry, and may eventually lead to indirect employment of tens of thousands of people. This is already a huge help for a region with a population of 200 million.

"Choosing a suitable location in Southeast Asia as a new production base is actually something that my group has planned for a long time." Yang Wendong continued, "Singapore is also dominated by Chinese people, and I also hope to be able to land the entire project here;
However, our group has an investment principle, which is to concentrate resources and invest in one place, not only in manufacturing, but also in other service industries.”

"Foreign investment in the service industry is also welcomed in Singapore." Director Li asked, "Which service industry does Mr. Yang want to invest in?"

"The service industry is actually the third aspect I mentioned, which is to attract overseas tourists." Yang Wendong continued, "I hope to build a large commercial plaza and a five-star hotel in Singapore. In addition, I will also invest in some office buildings or other properties."

It will take another two years for Hong Kong's housing prices to bottom out. It would be a waste to keep the money in the bank during these two years. It is just the right time to invest overseas.
Singapore is not Taiwan. Its establishment is the result of mutual compromise among Western countries such as Britain and the United States. Therefore, the restrictions on foreign investment are much smaller. At least commercial real estate is allowed to be invested in.

Director Li thought for a moment and said, "Hotels and shopping malls are fine as long as they comply with regulations; commercial properties are also fine, but residential properties are not. We currently do not allow foreign investment in residential development."

"That's fine. My goal is also commercial housing." Yang Wendong agreed.

In the past, Singapore handled the housing issue very well. Although the area was smaller than that of Hong Kong, the living environment of many people was much better than that of Hong Kong.
The most fundamental reason seems to be that the early Singapore government has always strictly controlled the housing industry, unlike the Hong Kong government, which did not care about anything. In the end, capital controlled housing and drove up housing prices, causing many people to be forced to live in cage houses, where the environment is even worse than prison.
Director Li added: "But Mr. Yang, this commercial property also needs government approval."

"Of course." Yang Wendong said with a smile: "Whether it is industrial, commercial or other investment, I will organize all the data and submit it to the government. After the negotiation and confirmation, I will invest."

Not every government has a plan for investment in every area within its jurisdiction, especially a newly established government. But it is not something that capitalists can decide at will, not even in the Hong Kong government.

Director Li agreed and said, "Okay, during this period, I will send someone from the Ministry of Commerce to follow Changxing Group. If there are any problems, we can communicate immediately."

"Thank you very much." Yang Wendong said with a smile.

As it involves large investments in multiple fields, Yang Wendong and Director Li can only discuss the general aspects. The specific location, size and other issues still require the participation of the team for negotiation.

After the meeting with the officials, the two sides agreed on a general framework for cooperation. The legal, commercial and other departments of several subsidiaries of Changxing Group immediately began to discuss basic issues of cooperation in various aspects with relevant Singaporean departments.

Yang Wendong brought several core members of the team to a place on the edge of Singapore's central area.

Zheng Zhijie pointed to an empty space in front and said, "Mr. Yang, this is where I want to build Changxing Commercial Plaza."

"How big is this area?" Yang Wendong asked.

Cheng Chi-chieh replied: "It's a total of 14 square feet. It's a semi-rural area, part agricultural, part village, and a small forest. It's already the largest developable land around Singapore's central area."

"It seems like there aren't many people around this location?" Bai Yujie asked after looking around.

Yang Wendong said with a smile: "More than a decade ago, some places near Central were similar to what they are now, but now, every inch of land is worth a lot of money. Real estate in any place has developed in this way." Singapore has just been established, and international capital has not invested much. Naturally, the real estate market has not taken off, and urbanization has not started. People's lives are still relatively scattered;

When the economy takes off in the future, people will gather together, and with a large immigrant population, the city will develop like Hong Kong. Not to mention the areas around Central, even other places will be similar to the towns in Hong Kong.

Bai Yujie said, "That's true. I remember when I was a kid, the towns in Kowloon were all very run-down. Now they are very prosperous, not to mention Hong Kong Island. But Brother Dong, are you so optimistic that Singapore can be like Hong Kong?"

"The reason why I am optimistic about Singapore is simple, because there are Chinese people here," Yang Wendong said. "Where there are Chinese people, the economy will definitely take off."

Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan and even the mainland in the past are all solid evidence. The first three countries were able to reach the developed level very quickly because their populations were too small, but their scale could not reach the developed level. The mainland was large enough, but the population was too large, so it was difficult to reach the "developed" standard.
At this time, Wei Zetao also said: "Mrs. Yang, there are some Chinese in many countries in Southeast Asia. They only account for a small proportion, but they control a lot of wealth, which is enough to explain the problem."

"Yeah," Bai Yujie nodded.

Yang Wendong added: "Singapore is better than Hong Kong in one aspect, that is its location. The Strait of Malacca is a major global transportation route. If it really develops, it will become the most important transit point in Asia.

So I also want to invest in the wharf here, Lao Zheng, in the later negotiations, this area must be followed up. In addition to the shopping mall and hotel, the wharf must also be acquired, at least a certain amount of shares. "

"I understand, Mr. Yang." Zheng Zhijie agreed.

Bai Yujie asked: "Will Hong Kong be affected?"

"There may be an impact, but the entire Asian economy is developing and can accommodate other important ports," said Yang Wendong.

In fact, if the mainland had not reformed and opened up, Hong Kong's docks would have declined after the decline of Hong Kong's industry. Even after entering the 21st century, the central government of the mainland took care of Hong Kong and did not build too many commercial docks near Hong Kong, just to leave room for Hong Kong's trade.
This is a dull trend. In the early days, Hong Kong was valued by Britain and built into the first port in Asia in order to benefit from the mainland market. Now the times are naturally different, and Britain is gradually failing.
In terms of locational importance, Singapore is still better.

Zheng Zhijie also said: "If Hong Kong also develops a container terminal one day, we can also compete for it. No matter who is stronger or weaker, we bet on both sides and we will definitely not lose."

"That's right." Yang Wendong agreed and said, "Old Zheng, Changxing Real Estate will set up another subsidiary, called Changxing Infrastructure, but it will not participate in infrastructure construction, but hold it; in the future, we will also hold some long-term and stable infrastructure projects like some British companies in Hong Kong."

It has been almost 7 years since I came to this world. I have accumulated a lot of capital, but I have not yet invested in an infrastructure project that can generate truly stable returns.

Ports, power plants, gas, communications and the like have long been monopolized by local British financial groups in Hong Kong. It is almost impossible to intervene when there is no change. There are only two possibilities. The first is forced acquisition, but this is obviously not suitable at this time. The most we can do is to prepare and wait for five years. The second is when the industry undergoes changes, such as the current container revolution.

Zheng Zhijie agreed and said, "Okay, no problem. I'll call the legal department in Hong Kong to register the subsidiary company later."

"Okay then." Yang Wendong continued, "Everyone should follow your own plan and jointly negotiate with the Singapore government. The core task is to build a large plastic products factory, a large commercial plaza, a five-star hotel, and acquire shares in the dock in Singapore.

These four projects are the core, and we can discuss other aspects. It would be even better if we can get more land in Singapore to build office buildings. There is no rush in this regard, and there will be plenty of opportunities in the future. "

The projects that enable Changxing Group to directly cooperate with the Singapore government are naturally the most important. In the future, these industries will inevitably become the pillars of Changxing Group in Singapore, just like the office buildings in Central, Hong Kong.

As for the others, there will be plenty of opportunities in the future. For example, the earliest cinema chains will naturally expand in Singapore. But these are trivial matters and are not worth negotiating with the government. If you have money, you can just buy the land and follow the process.

Wei Zetao and Zheng Zhijie both agreed: "Okay, Mr. Yang."

Yang Wendong asked again: "Where is the Four Seasons Hotel in Singapore going to be built?"

"This is in the city center, on Orchard Road in the central area." Zheng Zhijie replied: "There is now a very suitable business environment there. We can go and take a look now."

"Okay." Yang Wendong agreed.

Ten minutes later, everyone arrived at the central area of ​​Singapore. This is currently the most prosperous area in Singapore, but it is not very big, and like Hong Kong ten years ago, there are not many cars here.

"This is the location I like." Zheng Zhijie replied, "But there are a few places to choose from. We still need to negotiate with the Singapore government. After we decide on a place, we can decide on the room type."

"Okay, let's talk to the government as soon as possible." Yang Wendong nodded and asked, "Lao Liu, what about the Carrefour supermarket?"

Although Carrefour supermarkets cannot be said to have a monopoly in Hong Kong today, they already cover more than half of the population. Under this circumstance, although they will continue to expand, their investment efficiency is not as good as other new places. After all, the speed of 0-10 is definitely the fastest development.

Taiwan is also investing, and now Singapore is the same. In terms of development speed, Singapore is still faster than Taiwan.

Liu Huayu replied: “I arranged for people to come to Singapore for inspection a few months ago and found a total of 10 locations, so I will directly buy these lands or old properties and build supermarkets;

However, the plan is not to build 10 stores at once, but to build 3 stores first, send people from Hong Kong to teach, and send local people to Hong Kong to learn. After the stores open here, we will explore the local operating experience and some local procurement industry chains. "

"Okay, Carrefour does need to do it step by step." Yang Wendong agreed, "But compared to the others, yours is almost like a movie theater. You don't need to go through the Singapore government."

Only large projects require high-level government involvement, while small projects can be financed through direct investment. Carrefour's total investment in the future may not be low, but it will take a long time.

"I understand." Liu Huayu agreed.

Yang Wendong looked at Zheng Zhijie again and said, "Old Zheng, arrange for your people to come to Singapore to draw a detailed map, and then build large buildings and important locations into sand tables. In this way, when we discuss investment in Singapore in the future, it will be clear at a glance."

Walking through the city cannot help you understand the structure of the entire city, so in Hong Kong, there is a large sand table with large buildings in Central and Kowloon, with their own logo colors; if there are changes to the buildings in the future, they will be replaced. In this way, Yang Wendong can see the situation of Hong Kong properties at a glance.

There is none in Taiwan because foreign investment in real estate is not allowed there. Now Singapore is much freer, and I am also preparing to invest heavily, so naturally I need something similar.

"Okay, no problem." Zheng Zhijie also agreed.

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(End of this chapter)