Chapter 1409

The next day, Su Xinghui told Ling Anguo about the possibility of taking out a loan from the World Bank to build the road. Ling Anguo had spent the entire previous night thinking about how to raise the funds, so when he heard Su Xinghui say that a loan was possible, he was suddenly overjoyed.

Although the loan could only cover half the cost and the other half still needed to be raised by themselves, this already made Ling Anguo feel that the pressure had suddenly eased.

Ling Anguo knew the terrain of the entire county by heart. He naturally knew how far it was from the county seat to Xiaopu Township and roughly how much road construction funding was needed. He immediately had the County Transportation Bureau prepare a budget. After the budget was ready, he said that even if he had to beg everyone he knew, he would get some money from the provincial and municipal levels.

Yu Junchu had also returned to Wushui County. He also needed to go to the county to have the Transportation Bureau prepare a budget, and then he would also go to his superiors to ask for money. Once the self-raised funds from both sides were secured, the procedure for applying for the World Bank loan could be initiated.

Su Xinghui called Hackett in advance, but when he called the World Bank's representative office in China, Su Shanna said that Mr. Hackett was not there; he had gone out to inspect a construction site. She said she would contact him and have him call Su Xinghui back as soon as possible.

Half an hour later, Hackett called back. He said enthusiastically on the phone, "Hi, dear Su, how are you? I heard from Ms. Su Shanna that you called for me?"

Su Xinghui said, "Respected Mr. Hackett, hello. I heard you are out inspecting construction sites again; it must be very hard work."

Hackett said, "Yes, I am in Ludong Province. There is a highway project here that we provided a loan for. I am here to check on the progress of the project. Is there something you need me for?"

Su Xinghui said, "It's like this, Mr. Hackett. I have now been transferred to work in Changshan County in our city. Our county plans to build a highway that will connect to Wushui County in Jiangyou Province. The total length is nearly 80 kilometers, and it will require approximately 60 to 70 million in funding. We may need to apply for a loan from your World Bank."

Hackett said, "That's no problem. As long as it meets the loan conditions, I will certainly satisfy your request. About when will you need this loan?"

Su Xinghui said, "The detailed budget and feasibility report are currently being calculated and prepared. Once these are finished, I will call you again. I hope you can still help me by compressing the loan process as much as possible. We can still use the fiscal revenues of the two counties as collateral, so you can rest assured regarding the loan risk."

Hackett said, "That's fine, dear Su. Call me when you have everything ready. If I am not there, you can leave a message with Ms. Su Shanna, and I will rush over to your place as soon as possible. By the way, the county you are currently in is called Changshan County, right?"

Su Xinghui said, "Yes, it is to the southeast of Shangjun County, where I used to work, about 80 kilometers from Pengjiawan Town."

Hackett said, "I see. Alright, let's leave it at that for today. I need to finish the work here as soon as possible and then return to the Jingcheng office."

Hackett hung up the phone. Su Xinghui told Ling Anguo and Yu Junchu the news separately. He told them both to urge their transportation departments to produce the detailed budget and feasibility report as soon as possible so that they could enter the loan process.

Shao Dejin finished his inspection in Changshan County and prepared to return to Jiangcheng. On the night before his departure, he had a talk with Su Xinghui.

Su Xinghui smiled and asked Shao Dejin, "Chairman Shao, how do you feel about this inspection?"

Shao Dejin nodded and said, "My feeling is quite good. I will convene a board meeting as soon as I return. I expect that passing the construction of the slaughtering base in Changshan County at the board meeting will not be a problem. This is very beneficial for the company's development, after all. Besides, several board members came to Changshan County with me this time, and they also have a good impression of Changshan County."

Su Xinghui nodded and said, "Then thank you, Chairman Shao."

Shao Dejin said sternly, "I am also considering the interests of the company. To be honest, if your Changshan County did not meet our investment requirements, I would not consider investing here to build a factory."

Su Xinghui said, "This proves that Chairman Shao is an outstanding entrepreneur. If we can cooperate with you, we will also feel very reassured."

Shao Dejin said, "Yes, an enterprise's investment behavior should be a win-win or even a multi-win situation. It must be beneficial to both of us as partners, and even to the common people."

Su Xinghui said, "Since Chairman Shao has such an understanding, I have one condition that I think Chairman Shao will certainly be able to agree to."

Shao Dejin said, "What condition? Feel free to say it."

Su Xinghui said, "This condition is that if the Jiangcheng Meat Processing Group really builds a slaughtering base in our Changshan County, I hope that it can meet our standards in terms of environmental protection."

Shao Dejin was stunned and said, "This is the condition you are proposing?"

Su Xinghui smiled and said, "Then what condition does Chairman Shao think I should have proposed?"

Shao Dejin shook his head and laughed. In the many years he had been a factory director and then a chairman, he did not know how many officials he had dealt with. He had encountered all kinds of officials who had proposed all kinds of conditions and requirements, but he had never heard a condition like Su Xinghui's. He was actually proposing that environmental protection standards be met.

Shao Dejin was very certain that for a large project like his, with an investment of 400 to 500 million, any place would scramble to introduce it. Even if the project were heavily polluting, they would only pretend not to see it, and they would even use it to gain some personal benefits.

Shao Dejin looked at Su Xinghui with great interest and said, "Secretary Su, an official like you is truly rare. At least I have never seen one. Why do you want to propose such a condition?"

Su Xinghui said, "Chairman Shao has been inspecting our Changshan County these days and should have seen that Changshan County is a place with green hills, clear waters, and beautiful scenery. Our county has also introduced investors to establish a tourism development company to develop the tourism industry. In such a beautiful place, Chairman Shao, do you have the heart to destroy it because of pollution?"

If meat processing enterprises do not invest in environmental protection, the pollution to the environment is relatively large. The wastewater, waste residue, and other things produced after slaughtering livestock, although not chemical raw materials, are no less destructive to the environment than chemical raw materials.

Of course, it is relatively easy to make this wastewater and waste residue harmless. In this respect, it is much better than chemical raw materials. However, to make them harmless, a significant investment in environmental protection facilities is required, which of course increases their costs.

However, for Su Xinghui, this was his bottom line, and he would not allow himself to back down. If Shao Dejin did not agree, he would rather give up the project.

Shao Dejin said, "But if we increase investment in environmental protection, our costs will also increase significantly."

Su Xinghui said, "In this regard, we can provide more preferential policies as compensation, but environmental protection must meet the standards. This is my bottom line."

Shao Dejin said, "Secretary Su, you have introduced many enterprises in the places where you worked before. Can all these enterprises meet environmental protection standards?"

Su Xinghui nodded without hesitation and said, "Every enterprise I have introduced can meet environmental protection standards. If Chairman Shao does not believe me, I can accompany you to visit them one by one. If there is one that does not meet environmental protection standards, you don't have to invest here, and I will have nothing to say. I will solemnly apologize to you."