Kalistani Major History

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ODEN-K to ramp up production
Focus on "Natural" substances to regain market Share
Dahreil, Ananto
January 18, 5457


George Gutierrez, local member of the Ananto Growers' Syndicate, measures quality of this season's crop

ODEN-K announced a major investment effort to jumpstart the nation's flagging drug production and manufacture chain. Currently ODEN only exists in Hutori, Dolgava, and Kalistan, but years of status quo orientation has left Kalistan's branch much reduced compared to its former glory days. New CEO and Director Yvette Marcus seeks to reverse this drift into oblivion by going after major investments, both in the Cartel and in the manufacturing facilities that process, package and distribute the drugs in Kalistani markets and make them available to world purchasers.

"Kalistan remains the leader over all, though of course, we don't compete with our partners where they have the competitive advantage," said Marcus in an interview for Grower, the trade periodical for the Kalistani Growers' Syndicate. "That said, this year we have a major capital generating campaign scheduled, where we look to raise ₭15 billion to build an endowment that will make funds available through grants and partnerships to local and District Growers Associations, as well as other ODEN countries. The strategic aim of these partnerships is to reconvert crop land to production of marijuana, opium, coca leaf, ergot, psilocybin and mescaline, increase production and improve distribution to lower costs to producers and consumers while improving quality. We also want to encourage farmers to use sustainable fertilizers, and reduce the use of pesticides and fungicides on their crops to ensure higher quality of product, even if it means lower yields. The goal is to acquire the best quality materials for our drug industries. That takes money, that takes imagination, and that takes diversification."

The Government of Kalistan no longer directly contributes to, or oversees any part of ODEN, but has granted the Cartel a virtual monopoly over production, distribution and sale of all recreational and therapeutic drugs within Kalistan. Institutionalist Minister of the Agriculture Holly Ulysses said "ODEN has a long track record of responsible corporate behavior, with or without oversight by the Kalistani Government, and while our Government doesn't explicitly encourage drug use among the citizens of Kalistan, the way the Socialist governments of the past seemed to, nonetheless, we also firmly believe in the principle of individual responsibility for individual choices, and seek to help Kalistani citizens remain safe when they are exercising those choices. ODEN has long been committed to quality and affordability, and their work has long stood as a pillar for the Kalistani Economy, and the Government of Kalistan tacitly endorses those fundamentals."

Marcus continued, "The capital campaign is expected to last through the rest of this year, and then we expect to be able to fund about ₭750 million a year in projects from the endowment. Our main funding priorities involve helping startups through the Growers' Syndicates, encouraging sustainable planting, fertilizing, harvesting and distribution systems, helping farmers acquire necessary farm and irrigation equiptment, and generally expanding both drug cultivation and distribution infrastructure. The funds from the endowment will be available to all ODEN countries, but priority will go to Kalistani projects and operations. We obviously also encourage other countries to join ODEN (treaty link http://classic.particracy.net/viewtreaty...atyid=4152) and look forward to the opportunity to helping other nations get their own drug industries off the ground."

The capital campaign will kick off on January 31 of this year, and will involve major marketing to both large institutional investment groups as well as individual donors. Donation to the capital campaign is open to investors in all ODEN countries, as well as investors in all AESA Nations, of which only Kalistan is a member of ODEN.