Chapter 344

Chapter 344: The Indian Ocean Hub - Dar es Salaam

August.

Dar es Salaam.

Dar es Salaam remained as vibrant as ever, even though most ships now opted for a direct route to the Far East via the Suez Canal, challenging the strategic importance of the East African coast.

However, the Suez Canal had also shortened the distance from Europe to East Africa's coast, and ships under the Hexingen Ocean Trading Company continued to sail, ensuring the prosperity of the East African coastal waterways.

With the support of five key locations, including the Far East, Middle East, Mediterranean, Central and Eastern Europe, and East Africa, the Hexingen Ocean Trading Company had evolved into the world's leading large shipping company.

The company's four major sectors—grain, industrial raw materials, industrial products, and immigration—had propelled it to become the largest shipping company not only in Germany but in the world. With four independent large shipyards, 73 ocean-going ships, and 254 sailing vessels, its tonnage exceeded that of most countries.

Although the Hexingen Ocean Trading Company was technically split into German and Austrian parts, its primary focus was on serving East Africa, particularly the civilian shipping industry, which was virtually non-existent in East Africa. As a result, the Hexingen Royal Family's company had established itself as a super-monopoly organization well in advance.

Many major monopolies in the world had only just begun taking shape, such as the American Standard Oil Company, which had fully emerged after the economic crisis of 1873 in the original timeline. However, the Hexingen Ocean Trading Company had an earlier and more significant presence.

In fact, the Hexingen Consortium's precursor was the British East India Company, which, while similar to the Hexingen Consortium, was not as comprehensive.

Since its establishment, the Hexingen Ocean Trading Company had not been particularly profitable. In fact, it often operated at a loss due to continuous investments in shipbuilding and the needs of East African immigrants. Nonetheless, without the Hexingen Ocean Trading Company, there would likely be no East African Kingdom today, and East Africa wouldn't have had such a strong presence in the Far East.

The company had facilitated significant connections between German businessmen and the Far East government, leading to rapid capital growth from the Far East in Northeast Germany.

Austrian businessmen, in particular, had been proactive. They were the largest investor group in the Huaihai Economic Zone, with more than 30% of the total investment. This had enabled them to become the largest investor group in the region, overshadowing the efforts of other nations, including Germany.

However, when it came to the Far East, both German and Austrian businessmen were cautious. The Far East had immense potential but was dominated by Western powers. The scattered German population in the Far East was originally from various northern states of Germany and needed a unified approach to maximize their influence.

This led to the Hexingen Consortium becoming the business leader of the three nations in the Far East, with a significant influence on the Huaihai Economic Zone. The foreign capital injection in the Huaihai Economic Zone was a joint effort by business groups from Germany, Austria, and the Far East government. Austria alone accounted for more than 30% of the total investment, solidifying its position as the leading investor group.

Under the Westernization Movement, the Far East government had actively invested in government-run enterprises, but these were mainly concentrated along the Yangtze River and the southeast coastal areas. The establishment of the "Huaihai Economic Zone" in the north was primarily due to pressure from the East African Kingdom.

While the Zhili area was more favorable for development, it was forced by East Africa to establish the "Huaihai Economic Zone."

Dar es Salaam, with its well-planned urban renovation, had undergone a transformation. It had become a city where various needs could be met, and it continued to attract sailors and businessmen along the Indian Ocean coast.

The city boasted an excellent environment, a reputable casino, numerous entertainment options, and a vibrant hairdressing industry. Dar es Salaam had become a favored destination for Indian Ocean sailors and businessmen.

The city's reputation extended to its communication center, which catered primarily to Europeans in the western Indian Ocean. The telegraph system allowed for faster and more affordable communication with Europe, even connecting the Mozambican colony to Portugal.

Dar es Salaam was a hub for trade, finance, and shipping, drawing visitors from French Madagascar, British Cape Town, Portuguese Mozambique, and the Sultanate of Zanzibar. The city offered a wide range of commodities, top-notch catering and hotel services, and a thriving pub and tavern scene, making it a wine capital on the Indian Ocean coast.

Although the quality of tourists visiting Dar es Salaam was generally low, the city's well-maintained infrastructure and drainage system helped keep the streets clean. Public toilets were abundant, although their use was restricted.

Despite the challenges of accommodating tourists, Dar es Salaam had emerged as a garden city on the Indian Ocean coast, boasting a population of just over 80,000 and becoming the most developed city in the region.

Dar es Salaam's success was attributed to its strategic location, with competition primarily coming from Mombasa. Dar es Salaam had the advantage of being across from the Sultanate of Zanzibar, which had wealthy Arab businessmen