Chapter 1649: Obstacles

Golmud!

After Zhou Andong and his party finished touring the potash fertilizer plant, it was just noon, so they went straight to the cafeteria.

Cao Guoli said the food here was good, but in the middle of winter, "good food" actually just meant plenty of fish and meat.

However, in this era, having fish and meat at every meal—something even a mayor like Cao Guoli couldn't do every day—was truly enough to make anyone envious.

After eating, the group went to the factory conference room to drink tea and chat.

During this time, whether it was Yang Libin, Cao Guoli, or even their fellow townsman Hu Youqing, they all tried to probe Zhou Andong more than once, intentionally or unintentionally, wanting to know about the investment. But Zhou Andong was tight-lipped and didn't mention a single word.

At 3:00 PM, they returned to the municipal guesthouse and went to the reception room.

"Chairman Zhou, if you have any thoughts, just speak plainly."

Cao Guoli picked up the teapot and personally poured water into Zhou Andong's teacup.

Zhou Andong was leaving Golmud tomorrow; if they didn't talk today, there would be no chance.

It had been most of the day, and Zhou Andong still hadn't given a clear answer regarding the investment; he was truly anxious.

"Mayor Cao, Secretary Yang!" Zhou Andong said with some difficulty: "The only thing in Golmud that interests me is the salt mines, and if I'm going to do it, I'm going to build the largest potash fertilizer production enterprise in the country."

"Tell us what the problem is."

Upon hearing that Zhou Andong wanted to build the largest potash fertilizer production enterprise in the country, Secretary Yang could no longer maintain his composure.

"No matter how difficult it is, we will definitely do our best to resolve it."

"We are glorious salt lake workers, fighting on the vast salt lake. We fear not the scorching sun, nor the bone-chilling cold wind. We tread flat the thousand-acre waves of the salt lake, and unveil the ten-thousand-layer robes of the salt lake. Let the salt lake treasures that have slept for a thousand years contribute strength to socialist construction..."

Zhou Andong looked at Yang Libin and Cao Guoli: "When Factory Manager Hu sang this song, it was as if the grand scenes of those years appeared before my eyes. But, it is not thirty years ago anymore."

Saying this, Zhou Andong shook his head: "Back then, with one order, talents from all over the country supported national construction without hesitation. To say something you might not like to hear, if you want people to work in this place for two or three years, you can use money to move some of them.

But if it's for long-term work, even requiring them to bring their families and settle down here, even if you give them a lot of money, how many people would be willing to come?"

Yang Libin and Cao Guoli frowned at the same time. They really hadn't thought it was this kind of problem, but it was indeed an objective fact.

If they were just ordinary workers, they could be recruited locally, but those technical talents could not be found locally.

Zhou Andong sighed: "Originally, I intended to abandon the traditional development model of high consumption, high emissions, and low output of salt lakes, to formulate an overall plan, implement it in stages, recycle, use clean energy, and develop a comprehensive development scheme, taking the path of a circular economy.

That is, focusing on potash fertilizer development while comprehensively developing other resources. Moving from single potash extraction to a path of integrated development of multiple industries such as potash salt, salt lake chemicals, natural gas chemicals, non-ferrous metals, and metallurgical smelting, to build a circular economy development business model."

Hearing Zhou Andong's words, Yang Libin and Cao Guoli were both energized. Building a path of integrated development for multiple industries was too attractive to them.

Zhou Andong picked up his teacup, and while lowering his head to drink, he took the opportunity to observe the expressions of Yang Libin and Cao Guoli, a faint, imperceptible smile curling at the corner of his mouth.

Zhou Andong put down the teacup: "I plan to invest 280 to 300 million yuan to build a 1.5 million-ton potash fertilizer production project, completed in three phases.

But, the ideal is plump, and reality is skinny. The shortage of talent is the biggest obstacle placed before us. So, Secretary Yang, Mayor Cao, I have the heart but lack the strength."

Having expressed what needed to be expressed, Zhou Andong picked up his teacup and stopped talking. What happened next depended on the ability of Yang Libin and Cao Guoli.

He wasn't dead set on acquiring the Qinghai Potash Fertilizer Plant. If Yang Libin and Cao Guoli could solve the technical talent problem, he would definitely put what he said today into practice.

After all, the Qarhan Salt Lake is the second-largest salt lake in the world, with an area of nearly 6,000 square kilometers. The salt layer is two meters at its thinnest and twenty meters at its thickest.

Never mind building the largest potash fertilizer plant in the country; even building the largest in the world would be no problem, because the salt lake is renewable—it is China's only strategic-level lake.

"Chairman Zhou!" Cao Guoli said with a firm tone: "Talent is not an unsolvable problem; we can solve it."

Zhou Andong raised an eyebrow and laughed: "Mayor Cao, I can guarantee that as long as the technical talent problem can be solved, my investment will definitely land."

"Good!" Cao Guoli stood up, excitedly saying: "With those words from you, even if I have to risk my life, I will solve the problem."

"Fine!" Zhou Andong also stood up: "Then I will wait for your good news."

Yang Libin looked at the time: "Let's go, let's go eat."

In the plateau region, it gets dark relatively late. After eating, Zhou Andong and the others planned to go out for a walk.

Cao Guoli left two accompanying staff members behind, then got into a car with Yang Libin to go to the Municipal Committee.

In the car, Yang Libin asked: "Old Cao, do you really have a way to solve the technical talent problem?"

"How would I have a way?" Cao Guoli gave a bitter smile: "It was just to keep Zhou Andong steady. If I didn't say I could solve it, he might have left directly."

"I thought you really had a way; I was happy for nothing." Yang Libin sighed: "However, being able to get Zhou Andong's promise is 80% success. The remaining 20% depends on whether we can solve the technical talent problem."

Upon arriving at the Municipal Committee, they immediately notified the other standing committee members to hold a meeting.

In less than half an hour, the standing committee members had all arrived at the conference room.

Actually, they were all waiting for news. As soon as they walked in and saw the serious expressions on the faces of the two leaders, their hearts skipped a beat.

Executive Vice Mayor Shao Yulin said: "Secretary, Mayor, is it not very optimistic?"

Yang Libin shook his head: "Zhou Andong has already agreed to invest, and he wants to build a 1.5 million-ton potash fertilizer plant, with an investment of 280 to 300 million yuan."

Everyone was stunned upon hearing this, and then the only woman on the standing committee, Propaganda Department Head Qu Li, said.

"This is a good thing, we should be smiling. Why are you two still so serious?"

"He agreed to invest, but there is a prerequisite."

Cao Guoli gave a bitter smile and explained the matter in detail.

Everyone fell silent; this really was a difficult problem.

Never mind a private enterprise, even government departments were short of talent.

Just among the standing committee members, seven were cadres sent to support Qinghai.

After a while, Qu Li said: "I have an idea."

Hearing her words, everyone was energized, and pairs of eyes looked at Qu Li.

Yang Libin hurriedly said: "Speak quickly." ===== CHAPTER 1650 =====