Rebirth of the Age of Wealth

Chapter 503 Investment

"Hello, Director Liu!" Li Weidong greeted Director Liu first, then turned to Director Zeng and said, "I've seen you before because of several project approval matters!"

"If you're an acquaintance, that would be even better. Xiao Liu, tell Director Li what you think and try to persuade Director Li to invest in your project!" Director Zeng said still smiling.

Li Weidong looked at Director Zeng and Director Liu with some confusion, and began to think about the functions of the High-tech Industrial Technology Department and what projects he needed to invest in.

Formulate plans and policies for the development of innovative and high-tech industries, promote investment activities in emerging industries, and work with relevant parties to propose planning and layout recommendations for major scientific and technological infrastructure.

Propose policy recommendations for national technological and economic security and the cultivation of new driving forces for economic development, promote technological innovation and related high-tech industrialization, and organize major demonstration projects.

From this point of view, this organization has certain investment powers for high-tech enterprises. It is not just a leading organization, but shouldn’t the investment money belong to the country? How could you find him?

Director Liu said with some restraint: "Hello, Director Li, according to our understanding, Jingwei Investment is an industry controlled by you!"

After hearing this, Li Weidong nodded slightly and said nothing. This matter is not a secret in the eyes of some people. Although Director Liu's position is not high, he has great authority. It is not surprising to know this, and what he wants to say

That's not what I'm willing to do.

When Director Liu saw Li Weidong nodding and saying nothing, he knew that he had said another useful nonsense, but this must be the foreshadowing, otherwise it would be rude.

Then he continued: "From the information we got from the industrial and commercial department, Jingwei Investment has a special preference for high-tech industries. Among the companies it has invested in in the past two years, most of them are in high-tech industries, microelectronics, and semiconductor industries.

Not too small!"

Li Weidong nodded again, but this time he said a few words, "Jingwei Investment's investment strategy is to target high-tech industries with great development potential and high returns!"

"For example, electronic information, bioengineering and new medicine, new materials, new energy, advanced manufacturing, etc. These industries are sunrise industries, and the investment prospects are very broad!"

"Of course, we may still have some shortcomings in our policies. I also hope that Director Liu will popularize policies in this area for us in the future and provide valuable suggestions so that we can avoid detours!"

Director Zeng interjected: "This is easy to handle. Let Director Liu go to the company to introduce the latest policies and listen to the voices of the companies. This will help us make timely adjustments to certain policies!"

"It's a blessing. With your guidance, our path will be much smoother. I will ask them to contact Director Liu soon to see when Director Liu will be available!" Li Weidong beat the snake and followed the pole.

Director Liu also smiled and said: "Director Zeng's opinion is a good one. We cannot make decisions behind closed doors. We must also listen to the opinions of enterprises before we can introduce appropriate policies!"

The matter has been happily decided before we even get down to business. Li Weidong will naturally warmly welcome this kind of thing. He can have a good relationship with ministries and commissions, especially ministries and commissions like this, so how can he miss it.

Director Liu continued: "In recent years, we have made a lot of plans in the microelectronics industry according to relevant plans. Several large projects have been launched before and after, but the effect is not obvious."

"Due to various reasons, the 908 project we carried out in the past few years was too long and inefficient. By the time we completed the construction, the technology was already several generations behind!"

"The subsequent 909 project learned its lesson, approved the construction faster, and the technology was more advanced. It has also achieved mass production this year, and the profit is relatively high!"

"However, due to the particularity of the cooperation, the current orders are relatively single, all provided by NEC. The company is also an NEC management company, and only produces for them, and the research and development capabilities are somewhat insufficient!"

Director Liu glanced at Director Zeng. In fact, the most fundamental reason for the lack of development was the Wassenaar Agreement, but it was useless to talk about it. If he said too much, he would be suspected of complaining.

Director Liu briefly introduced the current situation, laid the groundwork, and continued: "Some time ago, a leader of our planning committee in Shanghai came up with an idea!"

Li Weidong showed a curious expression. He was very interested in microelectronics, integrated circuit manufacturing, and wafer processing, but it was difficult to achieve a decent scale by relying solely on personal ability.

It's just a small business. Now he has invested in a lot of semiconductor manufacturing industries, but all of them are marginal industries, and few really involve the core.

Not only because of the large capital investment, the main reason is the mismatch between technology and talents. The technology is difficult and high-level talents in various professions are needed.

Li Weidong has invested in many high-tech companies abroad and has no problem producing chips. However, for those companies, Li Weidong can only pursue financial investment, that is, to make money.

To a certain extent, it can also influence the decisions of these companies. As for controlling the company, there is no hope at all.

He can influence Nokia and Bird to engage in technical cooperation, but he cannot decide the method and depth of cooperation.

Moreover, these cooperations are also restricted by the Wassenaar Agreement, otherwise he could lead ASML to sell a few of the latest machines to the mainland, and save most of the trouble.

Li Weidong also wants to invest in a few domestic companies that can be successful, but how difficult it is. Later generations will naturally know that the companies he is investing in now will not become a big success.

In the future, we can only develop products with low added value and low technical content to earn some hard-earned money.

Li Weidong's investment mentality is nothing more than to make some money if he can help them. As for how much he can make, it depends on God's will.

It boils down to one sentence: to work in this industry, you must have great courage and innate advantages. If you want to follow the conventional idea of ​​running a business and grow it from small to big, the possibility is basically slim.

Therefore, enterprises that do this must be led by government forces. Even if there is no government force, they must have a government background. Even if there is no background, they must have a backing.

If you don’t have any of these things, no matter whether you think China is promising, China has core, or China is revitalizing, it will be in vain.

Now listening to Director Liu’s words, it seems that there is a way to do this. Could it be the future SMIC?

Li Weidong had naturally heard of what happened in Baodao's semiconductor industry. A semiconductor processing company was sold to another company for five billion US dollars. It was absolutely big news.

At this time, the United States supported Taiwan and South Korea to suppress Japan's semiconductor industry, so the semiconductor processing industry in these two places was very popular and famous.

Such a big thing has happened, and it is also an industry category that Li Weidong proposed that may be the company's pillar in the future. The secretary will definitely summarize the ins and outs to Li Weidong.

The major shareholder of Shida Semiconductor was sold to Semiconductor without the knowledge of the person in charge. The two bosses, who were originally colleagues, met again in the same company, but the former ordinary colleagues became superiors and subordinates.

But within a few days, after the person in charge found out, he resolutely resigned and walked away with his own money.

Of course Li Weidong knew that this old man finally came to the mainland and founded the famous SMIC, but he couldn't remember the time. However, it was a bit hasty to start working just after resigning, and it only took more than two months to finish the job!

Seeing that Li Weidong was thinking deeply, Director Liu paused for a moment, then slowed down and said: "Now we do it ourselves, and they will block our technology!"

"We cannot buy advanced equipment and technology, so development will be difficult after all. In this case, it is better to give it a try and introduce foreign capital to build factories locally!"

"Without the government background and purely commercial relationships, it is possible to bypass those restrictive agreements. Of course, there is no telling whether things will go so smoothly, but since it is possible, we must give it a try!"

"There is such an opportunity now. You may have heard about the acquisition of Baodao Shida Semiconductor. Their person in charge, Mr. Zhang, has resigned!"

"Based on what we know so far, he wants to set up a new company on Hong Kong Island for semiconductor processing, but the land price on Hong Kong Island is too expensive, and there are some other reasons. It is estimated that there may be variables in his plan!"

Director Liu did not elaborate, but just mentioned the land price issue. Li Weidong thought of the current turmoil in the real estate market in Hong Kong Island and roughly guessed the reason.

The richest man in his family is now leading real estate developers in Hong Kong to compete with the government. Land is more important than life. There is only so much land on Hong Kong Island. If you build a factory, where will I build my house?

Although the final result has not yet come out, since Director Liu has said this, it is estimated that the possibility of success is almost gone. Of course, Li Weidong does not dare to guess whether there are other reasons for this.

Director Liu continued: "Currently the Shanghai City Planning Commission is in contact with Mr. Zhang and wants to invite him to build a factory in Shanghai. The talks are going well now!"

"Although Mr. Zhang has not yet made a final decision, according to the feedback from comrades in Shanghai, the problem should not be big, and they will find ways to facilitate this matter!"

Li Weidong understood in his heart that his guess just now was somewhat common. The reason for the success of anything is not unilateral, but is determined by multiple factors.

"The next step is to talk about the actual content, which is the issue of capital investment. According to Mr. Zhang's preliminary budget, almost US$1.5 billion in capital is needed!"

"Of course we believe that with Mr. Zhang's appeal, he will definitely be able to attract a lot of financial support, but the type and nature of the funds will have a relatively large impact on this matter!"

"We understand that Chairman Li is more interested in this industry, so now we would like to inquire whether Chairman Li is interested in investing in this project!"

As early as when Director Liu mentioned this matter, Li Weidong had already understood in his mind that since he was introducing foreign capital to avoid risks, he had to do it more seriously, but it happened so quickly.

Li Weidong turned his head and glanced at Director Zeng. Director Zeng should have revealed it, but Director Zeng shook his head. This made Li Weidong a little surprised.

However, Li Weidong pondered for a moment and asked: "How much more funds are needed now?"

"Of course, the more, the better!" Director Liu said casually. After saying this, he realized something was wrong and quickly explained with a smile: "Director Li, you misunderstood, we didn't mean it this way!"

"Now Shanghai's industrial companies on Hong Kong Island can provide about US$1.5 billion for this project. In addition, our Planning Commission can provide US$60 million in foreign exchange support!"

"However, since we are introducing foreign investment, it is naturally difficult for the names of these companies to appear, so we need to be flexible."

Li Weidong showed a listening expression and wanted to know what Director Liu meant by flexible handling!

"If Director Li is interested in investing in this project, our plan is to jointly register an investment company with your Jingwei Investment abroad and invest in this project in the name of Jingwei Investment!"

Li Weidong nodded and said he understood. Jingwei Investment, which he runs, has been engaged in investments in this area recently. It would not be surprising if he invested in this company, and no one would doubt it.

Li Weidong did not express his position. In fact, he had no choice, but he still asked curiously: "This is more than 200 million U.S. dollars. Aren't you afraid that I will take the money away?"

Director Liu glanced at Director Zeng, then smiled and said: "Director Li, we believe in your character. Besides, with your worth, 200 million shouldn't be enough to attract your attention, right?"

Li Weidong also shook his head and smiled, believing that his character must be fake. It is true that these 200 million cannot catch his eye. His domestic assets are far more than 200 million.

And since it is a partnership to do business and the company is established, there will naturally be people from both parties, and the financial status will definitely be supervised. Even if you trust someone, it will be useless without supervision!

Li Weidong turned to look at Director Zeng and asked with a smile: "Director Zeng, how much money do you think this project needs to be invested in order to be meaningful?"

Director Zeng did not speak, but said to Director Liu, "Xiao Liu, you go back first and learn about the progress of this matter with Xiao Jiang in Shanghai!"

Director Liu knew that his task was completed and he did not need to participate in the remaining matters. He stood up and replied, "Okay Director Zeng, I will call Director Jiang right now!"

Then he said to Li Weidong, "Goodbye, Director Li!"

Li Weidong stood up and shook hands with him, and also said, "Goodbye". After all, he is the head of a department and has great power!

After Director Zeng waited for Li Weidong to sit down, he took out a note and said: "I have made an appointment with a few acquaintances to have tea with me tomorrow night. I will give you the address first, and I will forget it later!"

Li Weidong knew that Director Zeng's matchmaking was successful, otherwise he would not have had tea together. He took the note and said, "Thank you very much!"

Director Zeng waved his hand and said, "It's just a little effort!"

Then he continued: "Director Liu reported this matter to me a few days ago. He had several plans, but none of them were very mature. Later he put forward this opinion. I mentioned it to Mr. Zhu in the lounge just now.

, the leader also agrees, he has great confidence in you!"

Li Weidong asked in surprise: "The leader also knows?"

"Well, the leader's original words are that Comrade Li Weidong is still trustworthy!" Director Zeng said with a smile.

Li Weidong sighed and said: "Director Zeng, don't worry about this. I dare not say anything else. The funding issue will definitely be easy to solve. To be honest, I am very optimistic about this project!"

"Even without Director Liu's proposal, I would have invested. In fact, I have been paying attention to Mr. Zhang's movements, but I didn't expect that he would move so fast and start working again without taking any rest!"

Director Zeng stood up and said with a smile: "With your words, I feel relieved. The project you invest in has a high probability of success!"

When Li Weidong heard this, he trembled in his heart. He was careless. It is not a good thing to invest in projects that make money!

(End of chapter)