Dealing With The Government

On this historic Election Day, I give you this Government Story…




We are already in expansion mode. We are currently expanding the plant and will install an Induction Hardening System (this will replace our current Heat Treat System and only requires a fraction of the time to perform).

So we are adding on to the building. New Brick and Mortar as they say.

Of course, that means a building construction permit. And that means a visit to the local Construction Bureau. And that means all things political.

For example, for the particular construction company we want to use, they must first join the local “Trade Association” so they can be “certified” but that is really just a ruse to extort, I mean, um, require a joining fee to be paid to the local mafia, I mean, um, Trade Group. Of course, they don’t want to provide a receipt for the “fee” so you make of that what you will (and you would likely be correct in your assumptions).

I would like to stay out of that as much as possible. But I can’t.

Our General Manager, our Project Manager, and our Engineering Manager (all Americans) are currently away to the USA and Beijing, so that sort of makes me 4th in line of command (Senate Majority Leader behind the Pres, VP, and Speaker of the House - I think?).

This morning I receive word from our GM that we have to go meet with the Construction Bureau to try and gain approval of our construction application so we can get a permit (of course, we have already started building and they know it; just more red tape). Our GM tells me that I get to attend in his place because they want an American representative to attend with our two local Engineers to discuss the permit application. Now, I have ZERO knowledge of any previous discussions or what I am supposed to do or say, so I then receive the following instructions from our local Engineer (who has been involved from the beginning and knows what he is doing and is good at it) …

1. I will be introduced and present my business card.
2. I will take just a few minutes to describe the importance of the project to meet our production needs for our local customer and to meet our company business objectives in China.
3. The local Engineer will translate all that to the bureau.

So naturally I asked him if he will be correcting anything I say that is wrong and hopefully he will be really telling these guys all the correct information they need to hear?

His answer?

He says “They don’t speak ANY English, so I don’t care if you talk about your family. I just need you to talk for about 2 minutes; I’ll take care of the rest.”



This ought to be interesting! Stay Tuned…