Australia is known as a country that sits on a minecart is not blown, although now Australia is famous for several large mineral deposits in later generations have not been discovered, but in terms of proven mineral resources, Australia is also a country rich in mineral resources.

As iron ore and coal mines indispensable for industrial development, Australia has discovered several places in the western uninhabited area, with total reserves of 360 million tons and 1.9 billion tons respectively.

Perhaps both figures may seem huge at first glance, but compared to Australia's proven iron ore reserves of 15 billion tonnes and 900 billion tonnes, this figure is only a fraction of that.

But compared to other countries of this era, Australia's proven mineral resources are already huge.

Even according to the current steel production of the British Empire, Australia's iron ore was enough for Britain to consume for thirteen years.

Although the steel production of the British Empire will not remain the same forever, it is impossible for Australia to catch up with the steel production of the United Kingdom in a few years or even ten years.

This also means that even if Australia is now fully committed to industrial development, there will never be a shortage of mineral resources in more than a decade.

However, as a major country in mineral resources, Australia lacks only capital, equipment and talent, rather than the minerals that can be found everywhere.

"Minister Pierre, elaborate on your plans." Pierre Silvio Berlusconi's proposal was also Arthur's plan, so Arthur spoke to Minister Pierre with a little interest.

"Your Highness, there are a large number of mineral resources in the uninhabited areas in the western part of our country, among which coal and iron ore are necessary resources for industrial development. I propose, first of all, to build a large industrial production base in the western uninhabited areas, and to increase our steel production to at least 100,000 tons and more than 200,000 tons in three years, using the equipment provided by you, Your Highness. At the same time, using the steel we produce, we will lay railways and build transportation networks between the western industrial areas and our cities. In three years' time, when our steel production has reached a new stage, it's not too late to pursue the technology industry. Seeing that Arthur was intrigued by his proposal, Minister Pierre spoke louder.

"Minister Pierre, your plan is for us to increase steel production first, and the rest can be put on hold for the time being, right?" Arthur asked with a smile.

Increasing steel production may be difficult for other backward countries, but it is actually simple for Australia.

Australia has £50 million worth of industrial equipment from the UK, which has been carefully selected by Arthur, including some basic industrial equipment, including steelmaking furnaces.

The advantage of this is that Australia can quickly grasp the use of these industrial equipment, and once it is fully digested and utilized, Australia can rank among the world's top 20 industrial enterprises.

"No, Your Highness. My proposal is that we should give priority to the development of basic industries, including steel mills, and this does not mean that we should abandon other industrial development in the short term. I believe that the ultimate goal of Australia's industry is to develop into an independent research and production industry that forms a complete system. I believe that the ultimate goal of the technology industry, including military factories and shipyards, is to achieve independent R&D and production. Therefore, while developing basic industries, we need to introduce talents from Europe on a large scale to fill the talent gap caused by China's backward educational foundation. At the industrial level, the development of industry and the attraction of talent must go hand in hand. Minister Pierre said.

Australia still has a huge advantage over some other countries that are also seeking development.

Because of the same race, coupled with the geographical distance from Europe, Australia basically has no major contradictions with all European countries, and can attract advanced technology and talents from various European countries.

What Minister Pierre said is actually asking Australia in the future to have the strength to independently develop advanced technology and equipment, rather than only importing them from Europe.

This means that Australia must attract a large number of talent from Europe, otherwise independent research will be just a rhetoric.

Arthur nodded, Minister Pierre, as a talent sent to Australia by the British Empire before, his ability should not be underestimated.

If the introduction of equipment to develop basic industries is the present, then attracting talents to enhance research and development capabilities is to seek the future.

For a big country that wants to rise or even dominate one side, the country's independent research and development capabilities at the scientific and technological level are indispensable.

If a country's advanced industrial products can only rely on imports from abroad, then even if the country relies on importing a large amount of advanced equipment and greatly improves its strength, it will still be subject to others after all, and it will not be able to truly become a powerful country.

"Minister Pierre, what are the steel productions we have now?" Arthur asked.

It has to be said that the colonial period was also the period when the gap between Western countries and backward countries was the largest.

At a time when the steel output of Western countries has exceeded one million, or even reached tens of millions, the island country, a country that will rely on the Restoration to reach the top of the throne of the great powers, has only a little more than 1,000 tons of steel output.

Things will be better in Australia, but only a little bit. Because of the large number of iron and coal mines, the British established small steel mills in Australia.

"Your Highness, last year, the annual output of steel in the six states was about 3,700 tons, and the output of pig iron was 5,000 tons." Pierre said without thinking.

These are the real data that he learned about Australia during the week, and he knows that it is likely to be used, so Minister Pierre remembers it well.

"I'm giving you three years to triple Australia's steel production every year, can you do that?" Arthur asked with a smile as he looked at Minister Pierre, who was quite confident.

Tripling every year is not an easy task, the first year may be easy, but the second year it is exponentially more difficult.

Three times as many as 5,000 tons of pig iron is 15,000 tons, and three times as many as 15,000 tons is 45,000 tons.

Not to mention that in the final year, the three-fold increase of 45,000 tons will reach nearly 140,000 tons, and the total steel production will reach about 250,000 tons.

"No problem, Your Highness! As long as you give me sufficient funds and equipment, I promise to triple steel production every year for these three years. Minister Pierre replied decisively without hesitation.