We are on track to have chapters in most of the metropolitan areas of Nekkah and O’mer and the University sector of al-Kasraj. From these we should be able to launch phone banks, canvassing, advertising on the ground and on television and engage with social media. Honestly, for now we are not going to try to organize elsewhere but concentrate on where we have received encouragement.
With the collapse of the ruling party the big question is where are the Ba’athists and the Republican Guard going to throw their weight; neither HAA or Ideology of Ahmadism seem like an easy fit. They may well have other ideas.
We are not anti religious but recognize Ideology of Ahmadism has a lot more appeal to people who primarily see themselves as Israi or Abadi.
A key influence is the military. Likely they know our concern about taxes being too high may affect their budgeting. We are trying to counter this with a promise of modernizing but we may very well not be where they land.
We also doubt if we will be supported by those who think of themselves primarily as Metzists or monarchists either.
Then there is the business community. We are clearly not the choice of those oligarchs who want to sell off everything but the bare title to land to foreigners so they and their associates and family can live out their days in luxury regardless of the consequences to others. Thet really want us out of the way.
So we are endeavoring to speak for the business interests who want to build the Kafuri economy for the benefit of all Kafuristan but can not say we represent all business interests.
These are treacherous waters we are trying to navigate.
Most important is improving our economy and getting more people working. We are reviewing the safety net to insure we are not leaving the disadvantaged in a hopeless position.
Helping the economy involves several different approaches. We think a lot of small businesses could develop with a little government assistance to get started. We know international trade has periods when isolation rules, but we do think there may be opportunities at the moment and will be exploring these possibilities.
Oil has dominated our economy and we have no reason to think this is going to change any time soon. We are exploring how our oil policy can best be used to help all our citizens. We will be announcing more on this before very long. We do not want to be a day late and a KAF short but we also want to get it right.
Our taxes need revision. Our initial look indicates they are too high and reforming them can not be revenue neutral. Since we are not going to do deficit financing despite the unspeakable joy this would bring to some economists, the reduced revenue will have to be reflected in a combination of surplus reduction and budget shifts.
We will be proposing some changes but are not interested in change for the sake of change. We will be proceeding with respect for our traditions and culture and existing institutions.
The Finance Ministry is looking to revamp the tax code. The President has explained that the tax rate is just too high.
We also are working on how to get all our oil under control of the Kafuri National Oil Company (KNOC) known as Sharnaft, our state oil conglomerate. This is essential for managing our economy. Let me be clear, HAA is not against foreign investment in Kafuristan. Not at all. We welcome it. But we want the Sovereign Kafuri People to own the oil and gas. All of it. But then we anticipate leasing the opportunity to drill and sell petroleum and natural gas to private enterprise while continuing Sharnaft drilling and selling as well.
There seem to be at least three types of outstanding private interest in oil. One size does not fit all, and we are looking at several approaches in each case.
There appear to be a few outstanding private owners of oil. Maybe 7% of the existing reserves. To the extent Sharnaft can simply buy them out, this is certainly the best way. We are likely to pass a bill allowing eminent domain in the near future. Presuming that we do, we may well end up taking those private interests if we can not amicably buy them. This will not be nationalizing per se but a government taking for a vital national purpose with just compensation.
You may well say, but we need the funds from oil sales to fund our public healthcare and education, and you would be right. So this will not be an overnight effort but maybe a ten to fifteen year plan.
Then there is the attempt to have Vanaku based interests take over 15% of our oil. This effort is now moribund but vestiges of it are bound to exist. Accordingly, as our records searches proceed any actual ownership of oil or land which might have oil that is held by those holding them because of this Vanaku adventure will be handled by buying them outright or taking them through eminent domain.
Then there is possible ownership of Sharnaft itself. We are not concerned with subsidiaries or affiliates but KNOC which we want to own the oil and gas. But there may be outstanding instruments such as judgments, mortgages or security agreements or more exotic debt obscuring contracts including purchase options or hypothecation agreements which may have the capacity to transfer title to an interest in KNOC or its oil interests or land it owns.
We are employing the international law firm, Aziz, al-Akim, Wallenstein, Bourguiba and Vasilevskii to isolate and deal with these interests to the extent they exist. Some may be purchased and some may be removed by record clearing procedures or litigation, some may be handled by the Board of Sharnaft repurchasing its own stock equivalency and some may require eminent domain.
We understand some will say, but is that capitalism? To whhich we answer, no, this is Kafuristan.
The Council of Ministers has decided to introduce the Trans Majatran Corridors Network Treaty in the Majlis-al-Umma and hopes to convince that body that connections to the Corridors Network should be built.
The Trans Majatran Corridors Network Treaty was agreed to some time ago by nine of the nations of Majatra. The concept is to build roads and railways in a standard manner that will connect all of Majatra. Making the connections from Jamahirit al-Qalb would first connect us with Kalopia and points east,including Deltaria and Jakania.
We would thebe looking at connecting with Solentia and then look at how to reach the islands of Badara. Badara has an undersea tunnel to Cildania but our current thinking is that a ferry system might be more doable.
The intent of the treaty was to promote intra continental trade and we believe continuing that task and adapting and restructuring it to present conditions will have that same desired effect. Hizb Alkafurii Altajarii pledges to join with the other nations of Majatra to bring this worthwhile project to fruition so it can benefit us all.
The elections were really close. Any closer and Ideology of Ahmadism would have won. The main upshot is amendments to the system and new treaties will require both parties agreement.
Two were withdrawing from the Majatran Association (formerly the Majatran Economic Association) and its arrangements since it appears pretty much moribund. We will see if it revives or another regional economic organization appears which might be a useful engine for trade and economic growth.
One was concerning the Majatran Corridors Network in which there has been a lot of renewed interest. HAA believes joining in will be beneficial to the growth of trade in Majatra. The budget measure was shifting funds to the infrastructure budget to accommodate increased road building.
Two concerned lowering taxes which HAA has long felt were too high across the board. The lost revenue will come from the existing budget surplus. Quite frankly, these bills should be a beginning. And further cuts may be more difficult since we are not going to run a deficit and there is not much surplus remaining. Future tax cuts would almost certainly require budget cuts.
Not necessarily. The purpose of our agreement with Impero Istalia is that it will give both our nations some stability in an important area of both of our economies. Having a friendly and secure partner in this joint venture will help us both.
In all probability our overall production will remain about the same. The Kafuri Oil and Gas Refining Company (KOGARC) under the oversight of the Ministry of Trade and Industry will be pretty much producing the petroleum products and natural gas necessary for domestic consumers.
Beyond that KNOC will have surplus crude oil much of which will go to Istalia via our joint venture pipeline while the balance will be available for international sale on oil markets. The balance will be considerably less once we start sending crude oil to Istalia since we will continue to maintain the basically 2/3 of previous maximum level of production which is less than half of the estimated potential level of production.
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