Becoming a Russian Oligarch After Rebirth
Chapter 1342 - 1071: The Sudden Arrangement

Chapter 1342: Chapter 1071: The Sudden Arrangement

Upon returning to Moscow, Wang Ye distributed the Apple phones he had brought back to everyone he knew.

This included people from the Kremlin, the Speaker and Vice Speakers of the Duma, all the members of the two committees he chaired, and high-profile figures like Medvedev, Shao Yigu, and Korokolli.

Of course, this also included Rossiyana and those assistants and secretaries in his office.

Everyone was quite intrigued by such a novel gadget, especially because surfing the internet on this phone was incredibly convenient. As long as there was data, one could go online anytime, anywhere.

Although mobile data was very expensive at the time, which average users could hardly afford, for people like Wang Ye, that cost was negligible.

Previously, anyone wanting to access the internet had to use a desktop or laptop, which was highly inconvenient.

But now, with just a small phone, you could surf the web whenever you wanted, which was a huge improvement in convenience.

Since he brought back a substantial number of phones, after distributing them to his high-level contacts, Wang Ye gave the remaining ones to the senior managers of his various Group companies.

Although the total quantity was not enormous, the status of the individuals using these phones was quite significant.

Thus, it didn’t take long for people to start seeing many big shots on TV news, in newspapers and magazines, and at many important events, all using this distinctive new phone.

If the big shots were using it, it had to be a good thing!

In the past, the status-conscious crowd in Moscow used Vichu phones, as they were a symbol of identity and status, used by the elite.

But now, the new Apple phone had replaced Vichu as the latest trend.

The wealthy, of course, could not get their hands on Wang Ye’s gifts, but they could ask someone to buy them from the North American region. Grey-market goods were nothing new and had been around for quite some time.

As a result, almost everyone in Moscow’s upper echelons had an IPHONE in hand!

Even though the Apple phone had not yet officially gone on sale in the area...

Wang Ye’s anticipated effect had been achieved.

When Apple’s supply chain was fully integrated and production ramped up, they would begin to sell in the Eastern Europe region, and naturally, the sales would not be poor.

In fact, Rossiyana had already suggested to her grandfather, Constantin, to instruct his Communication Company to negotiate a partnership with Apple...

Firstly, after personal use, she truly believed in the future sales potential of the Apple phone.

Secondly, this was a product from her "husband’s" company, and her family naturally wanted to support it.

...

In mid-January, Wang Ye, as the Chairman of the Economic Committee, conducted a public inspection of the Yukos Group and the Russian Gas Industry Group and made an important speech.

He urged Yukos and the Russian Gas Industry Group to continue increasing their production and actively expand their markets, because Wang Ye believed that international energy prices would experience a significant increase within the year!

Indeed, over the past few years, international energy prices had already seen a surge. For example, crude oil had risen from under 40 US dollars a barrel in 2001 to nearly 80 US dollars a barrel now, doubling in price!

Yet at this price level of 80 dollars, it had stabilized for over a year. The international community believed this price was high enough and could not go up any further, as it would affect the development of the world economy.

The United States had continuously called for oil-producing countries to reduce oil prices, but to no avail. After all, for these oil-producing countries, higher oil prices were of crucial interest. When it came to their own interests, even the prestige of the United States was ineffectual.

Some people indeed raised objections to Wang Ye’s prediction. An Energy Department official who accompanied him to the inspection skeptically asked, "Director Mikhail, wouldn’t increasing production just lower market prices? Historically, energy price hikes are mostly due to reduced production, so isn’t what you’re saying somewhat..."

He meant to say that Wang Ye’s statement was contradictory, but he hesitated to say so outright.

Wang Ye smiled and didn’t take offense, instead, he patiently explained, "But have you considered the possibility that if other major oil-producing countries face issues and reduce their output while the global market’s demand for crude oil continues to increase? In that case, wouldn’t the price of oil continue to rise, and shouldn’t we then increase our production?"

The official was rendered speechless because, under the conditions described by Wang Ye, that would indeed be the appropriate course of action.

But to achieve that scenario seemed to require nearly impossible conditions!

Problems in other major oil-producing countries that reduce production?

How significant would those problems have to be?

There were only a few major oil-producing countries globally, including Russia itself. Which country could be the one to face issues...

The global market’s increasing demand for crude oil was a somewhat more comprehensible point – it just meant that Director Mikhail continued to be optimistic about the global economic recovery.

Though he wanted to ask further questions, when he considered Director Mikhail’s various roles, it seemed Mikhail had access to some very concrete information, which is why he made such a judgment.

So the official did not raise any further doubts.

The management teams of Yukos Group and Russian Gas Industry Group took Wang Ye’s directives seriously, noting them down and planning to immediately adjust this year’s production plans, focusing on increasing production and expanding the market.

They had absolute faith in Wang Ye’s words because, in the realm of business, Wang Ye had never been wrong before!

Every time, no matter how shocking his statements seemed, time always proved him right...