NationStates Jolt Archive

Official communique from the government of the United Provinces of Tanah Burung

With the recent peace agreement by which Knootian invaders will leave our national soil, the government of Tanah Burung is seeking new trade relationships.

Previously our economy was closed to trade with all states except those within the International Fair Trade Agreement. While we continue to wish the IFTA well and remain committed to the principles of fair trade, our country's economy is now strong enough to stand on its own. Therefore we are offering trade agreements to any interested state.

Foreign investment to aid in the rebuilding of our country after the illegal Knootian invasion is very welcome. We must stress however that foreign ownership remains strictly forbidden. We are open to joint venture corporations in which foreign investors provide capital and are repaid with a share of profits, but all ownership will remain with Burungi cooperatives.

A new day is dawning for our country. Our overseas friends are invited to be a part of this new era by signing fair trade deals with Tanah Burung.

Rosa Almeida
People's representative for economic affairs & cooperatives

Representative Almeida,

The Dwarven people's of Starblaydia have long produced the finest ales and hcokey sticks made anywhere in the world. As any beardless young Dwarf knows, the alehouse is an important part of any community, so our representatives are proposing the construction of a large-scale Brewery in your newly un-occupied nation to prove quality ales and beers to the Burungi people. Our Red Anvil Lager is known across Starblaydia for being the High Lord of Beers.

Personally, I would prefer our business representatives to be paid in the detached skulls of Burungi Cherry Cup winners, but Burungi loonies are more than acceptable.

Hoping for a prosperous future,

King Galhim Khazum-Kharad (Galhim_Khazum-Kharad),
Lord High Dwarf,
Karak D'Ragh,
Starblaydia.

AP Wire Report
The United Duchies has annouced it is fully commited to the rebuilding of the Burungi ecconomy and intends to open trade negotitions with this fellow former colony immediately. Many have pointed that the only thing preventing trade agreements far earlier were restrictive clauses in the IFTA which prevented this.

"The only problem we have ever had with the IFTA is some of their ownership clauses. We actually feel in many socities that employee ownership can be detramental in both enviromental protection, employee saftey, and long term capital improvements to factories. The high number of bankruptcy's and horrific saftey record of employee owned companies over five thousand workers demonstrates significant problems with the concept." a former government ecconomist, Sir Arthur Doyle was commented on.

"Mr. Doyle does demonstrate our reluctance to deal with the IFTA. However, if the Burungi desire to have employee ownership, the government is not opposed to that, nor do I think any currently intrested corporate partner feels it is a deal breaker. Primarily because Alconian society is not Burungi society, and most of those issues are partly connected to the nature of our society and how we as a people view ecconomics."

How dare you, you wretch of a dwarf, born of the unholy union between a dog and a goat--

Almeida tore up her first reply to the Starblaydian monarch. No, that would never do. She composed herself and began to compose her reply.

Your Majestic Beardedness,

Thank you ever so for your lovely letter. It is always a joy to hear from our friends in countries less blessed than our own by sporting excellence. (My commiserations on your country's recent defeat at the latest Cherry Cup, by the way. I hope you will agree there is no shame in losing to a superior foe.)

It is of course a well known fact that the beers, ales and assorted intoxicants of Tanah Burung are second to none. However, variety is the spice of life, and that's all the more so with regard to alcoholic beverages. I mean, you can never have too much, right?

Therefore, it is my pleasure to accept your offer and to offer you a complementary sampler of Stout Lout ales, enclosed with this letter. We are also more than prepared to agree to a trade agreement in alcohol, intoxicants, depressants, stimulants and hallucinogenics. Your partner in this venture shall be the Brewer's Retail Cooperative, based in the city of Matebian.

Please allow me to close with a traditional saying of my people: Let the spirits enter the body.

Almeida

no Zog trade

"It is always a joy to hear from our friends in countries less blessed than our own by sporting excellence." King Galhim read aloud, "(My commiserations on your country's recent defeat at the latest Cherry Cup, by the way. I hope you will agree there is no shame in losing to a superior foe.)"

He cleared his throat for a moment.

"Is there a diplomatic way to say 'shove that up yer arse with a Rayzors replica Hockey Stick'?" he asked his advisors. He got no reply, of course, as his advisors didn't want to lose the tips of their beards at the sweep of a sharpened Hockey Stick.

"Alright then," he said after a moment, "here's some dictation:"

Representative Almeida,

May we look forward to a long, drunken and profitable collaboration between our Brewers' Guild and your Brewer's Retail Cooperative.

Shove your Cossowaries - or whatever they're called - up yer arse with a Rayzors-replica Hockey Stick. We won it twice and beat your lot in the Final both times. Bugger off, woman, what do you lot know about Sport?

King Galhim Khazum-Kharad,
Lord High Dwarf,
Karak D'Ragh,
Starblaydia.

After Oliverrian president received the letter. He assembled the parliament for a special session.

President Sam Gagnon: Ministers, deputys, rich peoples that doesn't pay any taxes, I received a letter from Rosa Almeida that is Tanah Burung's representative for economic affairs & cooperatives. The letter says that they re-open their trades and economic barriers. What should we do? Let's hear the minister of Commerce and Foreign affairs: Richard Tremblay.

Minister Richard Tremblay: Well, as they just finished a war, they are surely in need of money. So, here's my idea: We give them 600 millions of Oliverrian dollars and they should be ok for a while.

*everybody approves*

I had a second idea, but as their law refuses any foreign ownership it cant be applied.

President Gagnon: What was this idea. Let's see if it's flexible so we can work something out.

Minister Tremblay: Well, I heard that they just won Cherry Cup XIII...

President: What? You just heard that? The news came out a week ago. You're late. Anyway, continue.

Minister: Well, they must love hockey, so what I was planning to do is to build an artificial ice factory there so they can play ice hockey as they want. Remember that the Oliverrian company(Tempo ices) that makes the ice received the Icy Joe award for the best artificial ice 2 years ago...

President: Let's modify it a bit: We ask Tempo Ices to build a ice factory there. The contract will lenght 5 years. During those 5 years, they will not pay any taxes so that they can be the bests in the world. But, at the end of those 5 years, they must pay the equivalent of 3 years of taxes. Does anyone agree with me? To know it, let's vote. Who is for the project?

*The board shows 88%*

This shows that the project is accepted. Now, the session is closed. I will write to both places to know if they accept...

President of Tempo Ices: Wait a minute: I'm there and I accept the project. So, write only to Tanah Burung.

President of Oliverry: Ok. Case closed!

10 minutes later, at the president's office

Well, let's write:


Dear Rosa Almeida:

We received your letter about the economical situation in your country and
want to propose your country something:

Firstly, we are giving you 600 millions of Oliverrian dollars without any
obligations, which means that you don't have to give those back.

Secondly, as you won Cherry Cup XIII, I think that your citizens will enjoy
more hockey. And, seeing that you are a tropical country, I propose you
something: Tempo ices, the Oliverrian company that is icing the OHL's team
ices all around Oliverry, will build an Artificial ice factory in your country so
you can experience quality ice for your hockey games.

I hope that you will accept this offer

Sincerely,
Sam Gagnon, president of Oliverry


He then said to the courrier: go fast, I don't want this to be beaten by another country...

To: Rosa Almeida, People's representative for economic affairs & cooperatives
From: The Right Honourable Livingston Bramble

The Free Republic supports the people of the United Provinces and would be pleased to continue the exploration of closer trade ties and business development that was begun before the illegal and unjustified Knootian invasion.

The Right Honouable Livingston Bramble
Ambassador to Tanah Burung

St Dominic is keen to engage in investment schemes with nations outside of our region. Joint venture capital enterprise can only benefit both of our nations. I hope we can become firm economic allies.
Minister Vreel

To: Rosa Almeida (People's representative for economic affairs & cooperatives, Tanah Burung)
From: Jermain Hunter (Finance and Trade Minister, Liverpool England)

Warmest Greetings,
I am personally pleased to hear of your great nation opening up its trade doors to foreign countries. Liverpool England is very willing to provide military equipment, IT-based services and state of the art passenger jets to Tanah Burung.

Liverpool England looks forward to being a trade partner with Tanah Burung, and between you and me, you can be sure your Cherry Cup team gets the best attention and good publicity if the Cherry Cup comes to Liverpool England and Oliverry for CC14.

(PS: Oh by the way, the foreign minister's bugging me to ask for an exchange of ambassadors, but of course I'm sure you'll have to discuss with your Government and the respective minister(s) ;))

Wishing you a pleasant day,
Yours,
Jermain Hunter

OOC: Post to indicate interest, IC coming later.

Memorandum

From: Banandum, Trade Minister of the Republic of Bipedal Apes
To: Rosa Almeida, People’s representative for economic affairs and cooperatives
Subject: Trans-border trade agreement

Most esteemed Representative Rosa,

Please accept this introduction and accompanying metric tonne of our finest Bipedaleen bananas as a token of our good faith and moral rectitude. We, the people of the Republic of Bipedal Apes, are most assuredly highly evolved intelligent bipedal peoples, and as such, worthy trade partners for your great, esteemed, and truly gigantical nation. Although the RBA is a small and sizically insignificant nation to so great a Burung as Tanah, we feel confident that our highly evolved form of apedom is bipedal enough to be a valuable trading partner to you and yours.

Furthermore, it has been commented throughout the simian nations that Bipedaleen banana wine is truly a most fermented and tasty beverage, which would surely sell many barrels in the winehouses of your esteemed and great nation. We therefore propose the foundation of a small but worthy joint-capital venture with investors of your fine country, to produce both fine banana wine as well as bananale infused with legendary Burungian hops and other ingredients, for likely sale to an adoring international market.

If indeed this proposal pleases your generous government, we welcome the opportunity to sign a contract and begin the festive money-making.

Truly yours,

Banandum

I could not exactly mention on my own behalf of what level of interest we would like to take toward forming a greater partnership with the population and citizens of Tanah Burung, but perhaps some information regarding the future direction of policy (internal and foriegn) of which your government wishes to undertake. Afterall, one could consider it unwise if we were to invest blindly."

-- Director of Economics, Van Saundes

To her Excellency Rosa Almeida

The Teutonic Empire, on behalf of Her Majesty Empress Aurora, sings the praises of the free people of Tanah Burung, and sends hopes for a most blessed future!

We are fully prepared to do all that can be done to aid you in establishing good trade relations. Either to assist in negotiations with other nations, or in providing infrastructure, manufactured goods (particularly automotives) and as well energy resources if they are needed. Development aided by Lavenrunz would be non-invasive and guaranteeing as much as possible the maintaining of the cultural values of your counry.

respectfully yours
Prince Karl von Eisenhart
Minister of Foreign Trade

Tanah Burung has been a good friend of Jeruselem in the past and will continue to pursue a better relationship with this nation.

Comes Ricardvs I Iervzalem
Regent of Jeruselem and Minister for Foreign Relations
http://www.imperiosud.com/aoe/aok/animaciones/caballero.gif

The Incorporated States of Tom Joad is willing to encourage joint-investment in Tanah Burung however we must also adopt a similar position to that of The Absolutionist State of Austar Union, until policy direction can be established as well as an evidenced requirement or suitability for particular industries we are neither willing or able to encourage industry to enter Tanah Burung.

Foreign Commissary of Tom Joad
Trade Liaison Directorate

Almeida scanned the replies. Icemaking? Banana wine? Well, it played to the national strengths in sports, gambling and "relaxed" tourism, she supposed. Why not.

She sent off a fast acceptance to the offers from Oliverry and the Bipedal Apes. Then balanced those with letters of acceptance to the Catholic states that had inquired. After all, the church had sustained the nation during the Knootian occupation, and ties with Jeruselem and St. Dominic could complement the tentative trade agreement reached with Pantocratoria during the war.

First trade and investment deals announced

Rosa Almeida, people's representative for economic affairs & cooperatives, announced prelimary economic agreements have been reached with Starblaydia, Oliverry, The Bipedal Apes, Jeruselem and St. Dominic. Trade negotiations will also take place with two neighbouring countries, Ilek-Vaad and Alcona & Hubris, which had already indicated willingness to aid in post-war reconstruction. Other offers are under discussion.[/quote]

Almeida fired off a letter to Jermain Hunter in Liverpool England:

Dear Minister Hunter,

Many thanks for your offer. The question of arms manufacturing in Tanah Burung is on hold for the moment. We currently do not permit military manufactures, and doign so at this time might be seen as provocative. May we reserve this dicussion to a later date?

I must also imform you that our country has banned the floight of jet aircraft over the mainland. Jets are permitted only at Tiga Burung International Airfield.

However, we are pleased to agree to your offer in connection to IT services, should you be interested in a deal in that sector alone.

Almeida

The others were trickier. Lavenrunz would have been near the top of her list, and certainly there would be popularity to be gained if she managed to ink that deal: Lavenrunzian soldiers en route to the Syskeyian wars had made thermselves well-liked on a stop in Tanah Burung. And yet a question remained.

My dear Prince,

Thank you for your letter and your best wishes. Please allow me to express the very highest regards of my government to the Empress and to her people. We should be pleased to accept reconstruction aid from the Teutonic Empire. It goes without saying that aid from Lavenrunz would be in keeping with the principles of non-interference that both our countries have pledged themselves to.

May i ask, however, if Lavenrunz remains a member of the KIST economic bloc? We are not able at this time to sign trade deals with KIST members. Regardless of this question, we look forward to continued good relations with your government.

Almeida

And finally, she dashed off identical letters to the Austar Union and Tom Joad.

It was a pleasure to receive your inquiry about economic relations. I regret that i am unable to predict the exact future direction of Burungi foreign policy. This decision must await the outcome of our national elections. However, i can tell you that all major political parties are pledged to some form of democratic socialism. In the past we have promoted a cooperative econonomy domestically, and international human rights and peace internationally.

I hope this information is of some help to you, and i apologize for not being able to offer more at this time. May i extend the best wishes of my government to yours.

Almeida

Rosa Almeida, people's representative for economic affairs & cooperatives, announced prelimary economic agreements have been reached with ... The Bipedal Apes ...

Memorandum

To: Most esteemed Representative Rosa of Tanah Burung
From: Banadum, humble Trade Minister, Republic of Bipedal Apes
Subject: Trade agreement

Ms. Rosa,

It is with great joy and happy tidings that I greet you upon learning of your nation's gracious grace in agreeing to enter into trade with our humble Republic. In re: said agreement of trade, we respectfully request an opportunity to deliver unto your nation the Chief Operational Officer of our national bananale brewery, Ms. Toesturtium. As primary responsibilitator for Bipedal Federated Fermentations, Toesturtium should naturally discuss with Burungian brewers specifics and logistics re: brewmentation and distribution of products within our two nations, both esteemed and humble.

If this is agreeable to you, please allow Toesturtium and her small bipedal delegation of brewngineers and financialators visas to enter your esteemed and rightously gigantic nation.

Respectfully yours,

Ms. Banandum

We of the Free Land of Shenn offer the following:

We have noted with pleasure that you have refused agreements to trade in armaments but still offer to trade in IT with the same country. We believe that this shows intergrety and intelligence and would consider it an honour if the following agreement is considered:

-Our organically grown Cannabis products are second to none. Only the
best strains and representatives of strains are used to parent new fields
no artificial fertilizers are used. All the farm equipment used in the sowing,
clipping, watering, and harvesting have been developed by our state
owned company Viable Farming and is designed to have a minimum
enviromental impact. All Cannabis farms are monitored using our own
computerised systems(made by ShennLogos) to maintain a standard higher
than that possible with only human supervision. We are prepared to sell
these products only to nations devoted to freedom and the peacful
persuit of happiness and knowledge, and yours seems to fit quite snugly
with these criteria.

-In return we would appreciate your aid in the creation of hallusinogenic
mushroom plantations, as this is an area we have very little experience
with. Spores, growing supplies and human expertise are most need.
computer systems for the monitoring of the crop would be much
appreciated, but not strictly nesseseary since ShennLogos are fully
capable of working out our own solutions to whatever problems may
occur in time.

Furthermore we are interested in offering, free of charge, the opportunity to exchange students across our borders. We see this as a wonderful opportunity to have our own people both learn and teach in the world, assuring everybodys continued growth and freedom, and hope that your nation may find some value in the same.


St AllJive of The Free Land of Shenn

KCN Wire Report
Amanda Blackwell, Key for Torrhall and Torrhaven has introduced the concept of a new investment scheme which would help rebuilding efforts in the nation of Tanah Burung. The bill, known as the Burungi investment Act would effectively create a special type of investment instrument in the Alconian and Klatchian Bond markets if agreed to by both the Grand Chamber and Tanah Burung

Effectively, it would allow Burungi Cooperative Corporations to get individuals to invest in their companies without selling stock. They would issue special, long term, discounted Bonds. However, the bill proposed would remove all forms of State income tax levied on any income generated from the bonds. This would greatly reduce the discount that Burungi companies would have to offer to attract investment capital in the Klatchian markets.

Miss Blackwell, "Really the problem for fair-trade companies dealing with more free market captial markets has been the ownership issues. Captial investors typically see investments without ownership or chance of ownership as being high risk. This translates into fair-trade companies having to attract captial by offering higher rates of returns as compared to companies allowing foreign ownership. In the long run this is disavantagous to these nationalised companies as they tend to lag in the funding of new captial investment projects, resulting in their processes being antiquated and at serious disadvantage compared to international competition.

If we and the nation of Tanah Burung work out this trade agreement to include this package, the yeilds that Burungi companies would have to offer on the open capital markets would be significantly reduced."

It is beleived that the Royal Trust will focus on investing in infastructure to allow areas within the heartland of Tanah Burung more access to the world and the world to it. "This does not mean super-highways. What it means is a long term, well conceived plan to allow increased rates of transport at decreased costs so that inland areas are more ecconomically advantaged then they presently are."