"You know that our royal family is developing Siberia. There was a lot of iron ore buried there. The companies we're working with are focusing only on oil fields, so I'd like to propose a steel mill construction project to you."

"You mean to build a steel mill in Siberia, not in Kazakhstan?"

"We already have your company's steel mill here, so if you make more mills in Kazakhstan, how will our companies compete with your company? You need to spread your ambitions in a bigger place."

"The Siberian project is tempting, but we cannot afford to hire people from remote areas, and the biggest problem is that we are concerned about logistics. If we were to increase the size of the steel mill in Kazakhstan, we could do more than that."

Although Siberia was a place of a bigger market, Mittal was hesitant to Youngho's proposal.

The issues Mittal pointed out were naturally expected.

The reason why Siberia's development had been slow despite its inexhaustible underground resources was that it was hampered by the lack of smooth logistics, severe weather, and the supply of workers to work in remote areas.

But that problem was before Kazakhstan's icebreakers were active on the Yenisei River.

"Would I have recommended building a steel mill in Siberia without taking those issues into account? First of all, there is the Yenisei River that could be used as a transport route of logistics, so it can be fully covered. Icebreakers are being deployed to allow four seasons of operation. Raw materials and finished goods would be more efficiently transported than using the land route if we used the Yenisei River. And there's no need to worry about manpower supply and demand. The city of Krasnoyarsk has a million people."

"Are you thinking of putting icebreakers in the Yenisei River?"

"You must be aware that the North Pole route has recently been opened. There's no need to worry about logistics because our icebreakers operate everywhere, whether it's the Yenisei or the Arctic Ocean."

"You've been already prepared for this."

"Unless you intend to build a steel mill in the very remote part of Siberia, we can do anything."

"I never thought of the Yenisei River and the city of Krasnoyarsk."

A place full of workers was Krasnoyarsk.

And using the Yenisei River could transport more raw materials and finished goods at a lower cost than on land.

"Your Highness. Can we make this unilateral decision without consulting the Russian government?"

"Of course, we have to sign an equity agreement with the Russian government. The right to resource development in Krasnoyarsk belongs to our royal family, so I'll arrange it for you."

"You are the only one who can make this kind of a deal with Putin, who is known for his particularity. I've been called M&A all my life, but I'm embarra.s.sed to be called that before you."

"I was just lucky. It was because of the limitations of the inland country that led us to enter the ca.n.a.l project."

In fact, when he entered the VolgDon Ca.n.a.l expansion project, Youngho himself thought it was reckless. It was a kind of adventure to invest in Russia, which might change at any moment. He also did not have other choices because the ca.n.a.l was the only way to the Black Sea.

When no one was willing to partic.i.p.ate, the Kazakh royal family took the lead, opening the door for foreign investment in Russia.

That gave Putin absolute trust in the Kazakh royal family.

"That's not the only attraction for Krasnoyarsk's investment. Would you like to hear it because it's more attractive?"

Eager to hear Youngho's suggestion, Mittal leaned forward toward Youngho.

"In Krasnoyarsk, Chinese companies are no longer allowed to step in. They damaged the natural environment too much."

"Since when has Russia been so sensitive to environmental issues?"

"Hahaha… It's like a special law that only applies to Krasnoyarsk."

"It's new to me that there are no Chinese companies anymore."

"The citizens of Krasnoyarsk have a unique environmental awareness. They drove out Chinese companies."

***

Mittal immediately called in his staff from the headquarters to the royal territory.

It was a great business opportunity in Russia. He would be reluctant to start a business in Russia but now that the Kazakh royal family was supporting him, he was confident that the royal family would be his safety device.

"Your Highness, March weather in Kazakhstan is still as cold as winter. Then Siberia, which is in the north, must be even colder."

"It's not until April that Kazakhstan will start warming up because it's affected by the continental climate. It's not much different from the weather in Siberia, so be a.s.sured."

"I was born in India, so I had a hard winter in London even though it didn't fall below zero, but it was nothing compared to here."

"It's cold, but it's tolerable when you get used to it. I prefer the winter here. It's hunting season. Here and in Siberia, the wolf hunt is legal, so when do you think you can join us?"

"I'm more interested in viewing stones than in hunting."

"Really? That's great. You can pick up viewing stones in the taiga woods. If you're lucky, you'll also get diamond stones and meteorites."

"Really? Are there such precious things buried in the woods?"

"If you'd like, would you like to take a tour of the taiga forest with your survey team? I will have my local staff guide your company. Siberia is still winter, so it won't be easy to find them because the snow hasn't melted, but there must be some things that locals keep in their possession."

Youngho suggested it because he knew that Mittal had a hobby of collecting unusual items.

Many rich people would collect and display all sorts of unusual things in their houses, and so was Mittal.

"It's an irresistible temptation. If I can find diamonds and even meteorites, I'd rather ignore other schedules and go to the taiga forest anytime."

"I'm going to Russia, too. Why don't you come with me?"

Chairman Mittal was excited that Youngho was going to Russia soon.

"Will it be all right for you to vacate the palace?"

"I had a plan to go to Moscow anyway. I can stop by Krasnoyarsk for a moment. Let me introduce you to a local person who can help you with your collection."

Mittal could not hide his excitement as being introduced to a local person to help his collection which was equivalent in getting the collection he wanted.

The reason why Youngho was visiting Moscow was that the consortium companies for the Trans-Siberian Train Project had completed due diligence on the site, they decided to sign the contract in Moscow.

If the deal was signed, the development project for the Krasnoyarsk would be able to start immediately.

The development of the taiga region was stopped because Youngho was waiting for foreign companies to seal the deal to modernize cross-country trains. If unexpected problems were found during the on-site inspection, some of the consortium companies could give up.

Now that the Trans-Siberian Railway project was sealed, the stumbling block was almost gone.

Although three of the companies involved in the Siberian development project were observers, they could start the project only after Youngho signed the contract because the Kazakh royal family was in charge of the Siberian development business.

After signing the contract, the company planned to start taking over Chinese machinery companies and developing oil fields.

However, if Chairman Mittal started the steel mill business at the same time, Putin would be exuberated.

Since the Crimean crisis, foreign investors were nowhere to be seen due to economic sanctions in the West, but since the start of the ca.n.a.l expansion project, foreign investment had been flooding into Russia.

Considering the recent rise in Putin's approval ratings, the return of foreign investors also played a part in the role.

It was all thanks to the Kazakh royal family. On top of that, if a steelmaking business began, Putin would dance with joy as steelmaking was a business that required a large number of workers. It would lead to job creation for many Russians.