Together Lapérouse!
Together Lapérouse!, (TL!) informally known as ‘Around the Guilder’ is a international infrastructure and economic development strategy adopted by the Côtois government adopted in 2018 to invest within the Lapérouse peninsula. It is considered to be a key part of the Federation’s foreign policy, second to the Red Crown Economic Union which is the centerpiece for Jeanne Pierre’s foreign policy.
Pierre announced the strategy during an official visit to Helslandr in 2018. The Together Lapérouse! referring to the proposed overland routes for road and rail transportation around the peninsula to better interconnect the countries on it. The strategy also builds upon diversifying the various economies of the peninsula to encourage more mining and agriculture by providing investment or subsidies from the Federation. With the Federation acting as the heart for manufacturing products for the peninsula. Examples of the TL! infrastructure investment includes ports, railroads, roads, bridges, airports, nuclear energy plants, hydroelectric energy and railroad tunnels.
The initiative was fully incorporated by the Federal government of the Federation in 2018 before Helslandr in a civil war. Due to the Helslandr Civil War several projects were placed on hold including an oil and natural gas pipeline going from Eyjaria throughout the Federation. Several of the railways built before the Helslandr Civil War were heavily damaged due to the conflict. However with the end of the civil war the projects will resume as planned and repairs underway on the infrastructure in Helslandr.
Numerous studies conducted by international officials and Norgsveltian economic specialists have estimated the TL! can greatly boost trade flow within the peninsula and cut cost of trade between the nations by a considerable percentage, and grow the GDP of the various countries within the peninsula by a considerable margin. The Osfjord-based consultants Center of Economics, Business and Generational Wealth Research, TL! is likely to greatly increase living standards, wages and reduce frictions that hold back inter-peninsula trade.
Supporters of the TL! praise the potential boost to peninsula GDP and rebuilding efforts to Helslandr. However there has been criticism over environmental impact and centering around the Federation of the Southern Coast. With the claim being the TL! the project is aimed to increase the influence of the Côtois government on the peninsula.
Objectives
The initiative was unveiled by the Federal Prime Minister Jeanne Pierre during her state visit to Helslandr in 2018. Then being heavily promoted during her tour of the various nations within the peninsula including Eyjaria and others. The initiative was given heavy coverage by Red Dove Media, a news agency within the Federation.
The stated objectives are “to create a unified large market across the peninsula, making full use of international and domestic markets. To increase cultural exchange and integration, to enhance the trust and understanding of member states. Increasing technological, talent pools, automation and investment into other members.” The initial focus has been on infrastructure and agricultural investments as well education facilities. First large project being a railway network going from Federation to Helslandr northern ports across from Eyjaria. With the second project being to greatly expand and building of new ports across Helslandr and Eyjaria. With the lion share of construction materials coming from the Federation itself. The construction of new trade routes, primarily centered around avoiding using the Guilder’s Strait and going overland as opposed to using the sea. Primarily the projects are paid and using Red Krone as opposed to United Krone, raising some concerns with critics. Given the NCEF influence within the region. The TL! projects heavily use the Red Krone, to pay for development of the infrastructure and agricultural investments. Critics of the TL! often citing the use of the Red Krone as an indirect method of increasing the Federation’s influence within the peninsula.
International Relations
The Together Lapérouse! is believed by some analysts to be a more direct way to extend Côtois economic and political influence. With several geopolitical analysts stating the initiative is an attempt to centralize the peninsula firmly around the Federation.
Financing
Financing for the project primarily comes from the Côtois Infrastructure Investment Bank (CI2CU) a state owned entity within the Federation created and dedicated to the TL! initiative. As of 2018, the Federal government of the Federation announced that over 1 trillion Red Krone (10 billion SHD; 20 billion UKR) of infrastructure-related projects were in planning or construction. With the Red Krone acting as the primary currency to facilitate operations.
Agricultural and Mineral Fund
In January 2020, Jeanne Pierre announced an additional 6 billion UKR (3 billion in SHD; 300 billion Red Krone) development joint Côtois-Norgsveltian fund separate from the infrastructure fund which would primarily be organized to invest in agricultural and mining operations on the peninsula.
Vendy Fund
The Vendy Fund was announced alongside the Agricultural and Mineral Fund to create a fund to invest in non-agricultural and mining business on the peninsula. Again the fund was a joint venture of Côtois-Norgsveltian governments. With 4 billion UKR (2 billion in SHD; 200 billion in Red Krone) planned or already being invested into the region.
Infrastructure networks
The TL! initiative is about promoting the physical overland infrastructure through the mountainous region on the peninsula. As well creating new and improved economic corridors between member nations. Infrastructure projects spans Eyjaria, Helslandr and Alva. With the Federation pushing for increase members within the TL! initiative. With the total cost of all the funds and investments totaling 15 billion SHD (30 billion UKR).
Integration of Electrical Grid
One of the aims of the TL! is to connect the various power grids together and increase green energy production. Such was with nuclear power plants, off-shore wind farms, hydroelectric dams and so forth.
Pipelines
There has been two pipeline projects covered by TL!, such as the Durin's Energy Pipeline and the [x] pipeline from Alva. Both of which, end in the Federation which uses the gas and oil pipes for its industries or for exports to the Red Crown Economic Union rather than direct energy needs. As such the pipelines increased the amount plastics and chemicals being produced and is cited for a notable increase in carbon emissions on the peninsula. The Durin's Energy Pipeline has been a critical part of the Helslandr economy during the rebuilding process despite having been started before the Helslandr Civil War. The pipeline has proved to be one of the fastest parts of the country's industry to been repaired and expanded with the dividends of the pipeline helping pay for social services.