151: Chapter 151 Investment Intensity

Zhao Yang took out the materials for the Hengtai Toy Factory. "This company's products have little technical content, yet it has settled in the High-tech Zone."

Sun Zhendong took the materials and looked at them, his expression changing slightly.

This company claimed an investment of two hundred million yuan and enjoyed significant land transfer discounts.

The project has been under construction for over half a year, but the invested funds only amount to a little over three million yuan.

Aside from two standard workshops of 1,000 square meters each, the rest of the funds were basically used for building perimeter walls.

This is a typical case of land grabbing.

Sun Zhendong looked at it for a while, then looked up and asked, "Did you collect these materials?"

"I read the company's profile and felt something was wrong, so I asked Gao Wenbo for help," Zhao Yang said bluntly.

Sun Zhendong nodded. "Data from the Planning Commission should be accurate."

After saying that, he took a deep breath and leaned back in his chair.

Before he arrived, this company had already signed the contract and settled there.

At that time, this labor-intensive enterprise might have been brought in to solve employment issues.

As the successor, Sun Zhendong naturally couldn't completely negate his predecessor's actions.

All he could do was to better clean up the existing mess.

But having such a company in the High-tech Zone was a very bad sign.

If he didn't state his position, it would leave people with this impression:

Even the Governor has seen it, and there's no problem at all.

In the future, more and more similar projects would move into the High-tech Zone.

With land reserves dwindling, how would they handle industrial transfers from the east?

If Zhao Yang hadn't discovered this in time, he might have been led by the nose by his subordinates tomorrow and very likely used as a pawn.

Sun Zhendong realized the seriousness of the problem and asked in a low voice:

"What suggestions do you have for dealing with such companies?"

Zhao Yang had plenty of ideas, but he needed to find one suitable for Jianghan Province.

At this time, in order to boost GDP, zero land prices, low land prices, and even negotiated transfers had become the norm in central provinces.

But after 2010, when the economy took off, the land had already been occupied.

The lack of available land became a pain point that lasted for over a decade.

As a transmigrator, Zhao Yang naturally knew the pros and cons.

But for Sun Zhendong, the current GDP and future development space were equally important.

Zhao Yang thought for a while and gave six words, pausing after each:

"Investment intensity assessment."

Sun Zhendong's pupils contracted slightly, and his expression became serious.

The young man in front of him was always coming out with terms he didn't understand.

"What does that mean?"

"Investment intensity is the actual investment amount divided by the transferred land area. We set a standard, and those who don't meet it won't be granted land."

Faced with Zhao Yang's answer, Sun Zhendong took a sharp breath.

This was a good method, but it required courage.

Once the assessment indicators were released, many projects would be blocked.

If the GDP didn't go up, he, as the Governor, wouldn't be able to explain himself to either his superiors or subordinates.

Looking at Sun Zhendong's expression, Zhao Yang guessed his thoughts.

"Governor, for projects that have already settled, we can set a time limit. If they don't reach the investment intensity within the specified time, we reclaim or partially reclaim the transferred land.

"For potential projects, it can serve as our internal reference standard."

Sun Zhendong nodded. "I understand."

Seeing this, Zhao Yang immediately left the Governor's office.

This was a difficult decision involving the development of a province; Sun Zhendong couldn't make it lightly.

The next morning, the motorcade was waiting punctually downstairs at the government building.

Zhao Yang was one step ahead of Sun Zhendong and opened the rear door of the car for him.

As Sun Zhendong got into the car, he whispered:

"I'm not that old; I can open and close the door myself."

From his tone, it didn't sound like a reproach.

Zhao Yang smiled and opened the door to sit in the passenger seat.

Zhou Shizhong was sitting in the accompanying Coaster, in a good mood.

Song Zhicheng had already made arrangements and memorized all the lines he needed to say.

Placing the Hengtai Toy Factory in the middle of the itinerary was very deliberate.

At this time, the Governor was most likely to be relaxed.

At exactly ten o'clock, the motorcade arrived at the Hengshun Toy Factory.

Led by the pilot vehicle, the motorcade stopped between two standard workshops.

From this position, the factory area looked very full.

Song Zhicheng held a microphone and gave an exuberant introduction.

A beautiful female employee followed him closely, carrying a speaker.

"Our phase one, consisting of two workshops, has been completed. We will soon install and test the equipment, and all products will be exported to Europe and America..."

Before Song Zhicheng could finish, Sun Zhendong interrupted:

"President Song, how much land does the toy factory project occupy, and how much investment has been completed so far?"

Song Zhicheng hadn't expected Sun Zhendong to deviate from the script and was somewhat surprised.

"It occupies 300 mu, and the investment is..."

With an investment of only three million yuan but occupying such a large area, he couldn't bring himself to say it.

Song Zhicheng involuntarily looked toward his brother-in-law, Zhou Shizhong.

Zhou Shizhong also hadn't expected Sun Zhendong to deviate from the theme and ask a sudden question.

He cursed Song Zhicheng for being a fool in his heart; just make something up, how would the Governor know!

He extended two fingers and rubbed his temples.

Song Zhicheng understood and immediately raised his voice:

"Currently, twenty million yuan has been invested. As the subsequent phase two and phase three projects begin, the investment will gradually be in place."

At this time, most companies attracting investment were just making empty promises.

Not even half of them made actual investments.

Leaders usually just listened when it came to how much was actually invested in a project.

Song Zhicheng never expected that Sun Zhendong would take it seriously.

Sun Zhendong waved over the accompanying Wu Dechang and asked:

"Director Wu, with so much investment completed for this project, why hasn't even the equipment been brought in?"

Ever since Wu Dechang was criticized by Sun Zhendong, he felt nervous whenever he saw him.

If he could just transition smoothly to the People's Congress and retire, everything would be fine.

How could he help Song Zhicheng cover up the lie? He could only tell it like it was.

"Reporting to the Governor, the actual investment is less than three million yuan."

Although he kept his voice very low, Zhou Shizhong heard him clearly.

Standing next to Sun Zhendong, his face turned pale then flushed with anger.

He completely hadn't expected the Governor to suddenly pull this move.

Sun Zhendong didn't notice the change in Zhou Shizhong's expression at all, but smiled at Song Zhicheng:

"President Song, since the phase one investment is twenty million yuan, please fulfill it as soon as possible. Come on, take me to see the plans for phase two and phase three."

Originally, it was only arranged for Sun Zhendong to pass through here and listen to Song Zhicheng boast and make empty promises.

Song Zhicheng hadn't even prepared any display boards.

Now that Sun Zhendong had made the request, he could only lead everyone through the workshop to the adjacent open space.

At a glance, withered yellow grass was everywhere.

Sun Zhendong sighed, "Hengtai really is making a grand gesture, buying such a large area of land only to leave it idle."

He turned his head to look at the Mayor of Jiangzhou City, Ma Zhenbang:

"Mayor Ma, at what price per mu was the land here approved?"

Ma Zhenbang's forehead was sweating slightly. "According to policy, eighty thousand per mu."

"What is the land price nearby?" Sun Zhendong pointed to the dense workshops in the vicinity.

"One hundred... one hundred and twenty thousand."

"Three hundred mu, that's a price difference of twelve million yuan." Sun Zhendong's voice was cold.

"Mayor Ma, why is there such a large discount for a project with such low investment intensity?"

These words were like a heavy hammer, striking the chests of Ma Zhenbang, Zhou Shizhong, Song Zhicheng, and the others.