NationStates Jolt Archive

Missive from Her Highness, Prime Matriarch Bandrubba of the Republic of Bipedal Apes

Human and non-human nations of the worlds, I greet you. It is with sincere esteem and good will that I issue forth this message today. For the first time, in agreement with the Parliament of this humble Republic, I announce the opening of Bipedaleen borders to foreign investment. Please note the following important facts regarding the RBA:

Cost of facilities is quite low. Aside from tracts of rice fields and banana plantations, much of our open veldt and coastal rainforests are undeveloped. Construction may be achieved at minimal expense in the RBA, and the central government is willing to provide long-term leases that include tax reductions or exemptions to foreign companies interested in employing Bipedaleen workers and shipping via Bipedaleen infrastructure.

Cost of labor is low as well. Although workers in many sector are unionized, the low exchange rate of the Banana Sterling on Trans-border markets keeps absolute wages at an extremely reasonable level for foreign investors.

The education level of the Bipedaleen workforce is rising. The primary concern of the central government is the education of the populace. We believe that you will find our workers ready and able to take on jobs requiring high degrees of technical skill. Having the world’s premiere union of banana pickers within our borders, you will also find a labor force that is capable of repetitive and arduous work at reasonable rates of pay—made lower, as noted previously, by the currency exchange rate.

Finally, the RBA has an extensive port system, used for many years to support our heavily banana-based economy (note that the United Nations spells banana “B-E-E-F” and so U.N. reports may mislead readers as to our true agricultural base). Although many areas of the country have poor road and rail systems, and there is admittedly no major airport in the RBA, the government is willing to make investments to meet the needs of foreign industry. With thousands of square kilometers of flat open veldt to work with, transport construction will proceed quickly once needs are mapped.

In summary, the RBA is an excellent choice for the major foreign investor looking to expand operations or relocate manufacturing facilities. I hope that you will consider us for your future projects.

Thank you,

Ms. Bandrubba

Banana-pickers' Union Must Protest!

Opening borders to foreign investment on grounds Bipedaleen workforce cheap? Offering tax incentives to companies to turn beutiful veldt and ranforest into ugly strip-mined factory carparks? Outrageous! We beg Prime Matriarch to reconsider offer to Trans-border community.

Signed,

Flotwoodle

Chief Unionist, Local 1033 Banana Pickers

We would be interested in setting up any number of factories, are there any restrictions on manufacturing practices and goods manufactured? Also what is the status of any nationalist, communist or dictatorial political parties in your nation?

Thank you for interest, esteemed nation of Theao. There no major restrictions on industries or products manufactured in Republic. Politically, we are free-thinking right-minded upright-walking, highly evolved apes with freely elected parliament. Governing coalition currently headed by Workers' United Party and Bananalist Matriarchs Party. Prime Matriarch is sovereign monarch, co-governing with Prime Minister and Parliament.

Please ask any further questions regarding governance of nation. Prime Matriarch may respond directly if necessary.

Thank you,

Ms. Rospitoon, Minister of Foreign Trade

We would be interested in opening a few factories in your nation.
Could you provide the cost for:
1: A 8 by 4 mile section of land, with access to a river
2: A 4 by 6 mile section of land, with access to a river
3: A 10 by 2 mile section of land, with access to a river

Government of Bipedal Apes would be happy to lease land-tracts as requested at minimal cost, if esteemed Theaoan government can provide some details regarding site.

Specifically:

1. How many Bipedaleen workers do you plan on employing, and at what approximate wages?

2. How much pollution and of what type will sites produce?

3. Will output be products for sale in RBA?

4. Will Bipedaleen shipping ports be used a) to import raw materials; b) to export factory output?

5. What infrastructure improvements do you require?

Note that government is willing to make reasonable infrastructure investments, including road and railbuilding, connection to power grid, etc.

Depending on number of Bipedaleen workers to be employed and amount of pollution to be absorbed by Bipedaleen environment, RBA government will determine appropriate lease and/or tax rates and provide quote (always open to negotiation).

Note that Banana Sterling currently trades at $.19 US.

Thank you,

Ms. Rospitoon, Minister of Foreign Trade

1. How many Bipedaleen workers do you plan on employing, and at what approximate wages?
Dependent on site and corperation which gains the sites.
Numbers of workers would range from eighty to two-thousand.
Wages would range from ten USD/hour, to a hundred USD/hour.

2. How much pollution and of what type will sites produce?
Again dependent on site and corperation.
Any where to mild X-radiation to smoke. Any truely harmful pollutants will, unless there is a major malfunction, be removed from your nation

3. Will output be products for sale in RBA?
They may be dependent on international demand, native demand, and cost ratios.

4. Will Bipedaleen shipping ports be used a) to import raw materials; b) to export factory output?
If an airport is considered a shipping port then yes to both A and B.

5. What infrastructure improvements do you require?
The only infrastructure required would be vehicles capable of transporting both raw and processed materials.

ooc: It's Theao, not Theaoan

To esteemed government of Theao: thank you for replying to Ministry's questions. Government of RBA is prepared to supply following site:

225-square kilometer site, 15 km on side, on Bananippi River in southwestern RBA. Site currently undeveloped veldt. Location approximately 100 km SE of Bananapolis, city of pop. 3 million on western coast. River approximately bisects site, allowing configuration of three sites as requested.

Government will construct in two months' time four-lane road connecting site to Bananapolis, allowing access to shipping ports if desired, as well as labor access. Domestic commercial developers will construct housing and merchant infrastructure for workers. Republican government will construct airport, in cooperation with Bananapolis government, 40 km from site in direction of city. Note that construction time very quick on veldt.

Trucking and transport to be performed by domestic companies. Contruction of site may be performed by domestic or Theao companies and workers.

Cost of lease to be negligible 1 million Banana Sterling/year, reduced by 200BS per Bipedaleen worker employed at site (not to be reduced below zero). Shipping costs to be set by airport authority. Lease terms set for twenty years.

Does this sound acceptable to Theao government?

Ms. Rospitoon, Minister of Foreign Trade

That is acceptable, construction will be done by the corperations which take the sites and will be using Theao labour for the intial construction, as certain machinery and parts are highly delicate/skill intensive.

After seeing the level of alcohol sales start to fall in Druida, Bessburg Breweries have decided that it would be a good time to try out new markets to keep profits up. Bipedal Apes seem like the kind of market who would enjoy our drinks, ranging from Bessburg Best Bitter to a new line of drinks, made especially for the Bipedal Apes market, the Bessburg Banana Beer.

Banana Beer sounds most delectable. Ministry of Domestic Trade has requested bids for bottling and distribution partnerships, and received following:

Federated Fermenation, largest brewer in RBA, offers to enter into partnership with Bessburg Brewery for importation, bottling, and distributing Druidan fermented products via FF's established network of plants and distributors. FF currently has 34% share in FBA fermented beverages market, and wholly or partially owns all bottling facilities. Distributes partly through own network and partially through Bipedaleen Beverage Distributors, LLP. Federated Fermentation's offer is to create new corporation, Federated-Bessburg Subsidiaries, with FF holding 40% ownership and one of three seats on Board of Directors.

Brewmentation Underwriters and Distributors, third-largest beverage distributor in RBA and one of Bipedal Apes Stock Exchange's top fifty companies, offers to bottle and distribute BB products under contract at estimated cost of 5p BS (one twentieth Banana Sterling, or approximately one cent US) per bottle/can. BUD distributes beverages, both fermented and non, to supermarkets, restaurants, bars, fueling stations, and other outlets throughout RBA, holding a 20% market share. BUD owns several bottling facilities currently operating at 80% capacity overall, allowing for addition of product lines with minimal start time or cost.

Please deliver offers to esteemed Bessburg bigwigs and inform Foreign Ministry if either offer is accepted.

Thank you,

Ms. Rospitoon, Minister of Foreign Trade

That is acceptable, construction will be done by the corperations which take the sites and will be using Theao labour for the intial construction, as certain machinery and parts are highly delicate/skill intensive.

Government of RBA is pleased to have completed contract. Construction to upgrade infrastructure as described has begun.

Ms. Arbuggle, Minister of Interior Affairs