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Quest Means Business
NYC To Impose Vaccine Mandate For Restaurants, Gyms, And Venues; Joe Biden To Address U.S. Vaccine Efforts At Home And Abroad; Tencent Limits Screen Time As China Calls Games Spiritual Opium; Fires In Turkey; Driscoll's President Says Labor Is Biggest Challenge; Quest's World Of Wonder: Dubrovnik; U.S. Major Averages Up as Vaccine Mandate Momentum Builds. Aired 3-4p ET
Aired August 03, 2021 - 15:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[15:00:19]
RICHARD QUEST, CNN INTERNATIONAL HOST: There's an hour to go, trading on Wall Street, and the Dow is pushing for a record breaking finish. The
market has been up most of the session. The number you see on the screen, that 35,066, the number we're looking for today. 35,144. Could it maybe
possibly? Let's see as the hour goes on.
The markets as they are trading now and the main events of the day.
New York joins Paris and other world cities by requiring a vaccine for indoor activities.
Tencent tumbles in Hong Kong after Chinese state media targets its mobile games.
And we are Turkey -- live in Turkey where huge wildfires are ravaging the country.
In New York tonight, which is where we are, it is Tuesday, it is the 3rd of August. I'm Richard Quest, and yes, I mean business.
Good evening. We begin tonight with a major escalation of vaccine requirements in one of the world's great cities, and all courtesy of these
words from the Mayor of New York. "If you want to participate in our society fully, you've got to get vaccinated."
And with those words, Bill de Blasio announced that New York would follow other cities around the world by adopting a vaccine mandate.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MAYOR BILL DE BLASIO (D), NEW YORK CITY: If you want to participate in our society fully, you have to get vaccinated. You've got to get vaccinated.
It's time.
All the answers, all the information is out there. You've seen over 160 million Americans get vaccinated safely. You've seen it make the
difference. The only reason we're having the recovery is vaccination.
So, it's time, and this is going to send that message clearly.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
QUEST: A vaccine pass will be required in the city to enter restaurants, gyms, and entertainment venues. They'll be working out the details during
August and it actually becomes enforceable on September 13th.
De Blasio calls it a first in the nation, meaning the U.S. requirement. Of course, the Big Apple joins other world-class cities like Paris with its
nationally mandated Green Pass. Abu Dhabi where restrictions ago lot further include shopping centers and schools.
Vanessa Yurkevich is with me. So, this is really interesting because he did -- he made a requirement but not a mandate on masks. They've called for
private companies to go further. But why has the city mandated vaccinations in this way?
VANESSA YURKEVICH, CNN BUSINESS AND POLITICS REPORTER: Hi, Richard. Well, Mayor Bill de Blasio is essentially saying that if you get vaccinated, that
is your ticket to entry at a restaurant, a bar, a gym, a movie theater, and as you mentioned, some European countries have done this already.
But here in New York City, he wants to make sure that it is encouraging people to get vaccinated and slowing the spread of this very contagious
delta variant. We actually spoke to an owner of a restaurant and bar right here in New York City who says that he very much welcomes this news.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JACK MCGARRY, CO-OWNER, THE DEAD RABBIT: So, we were wrestling with it right from the get-go. Because like the laissez faire sort of approach
isn't working. So we were, I believe this week we would have made the decision anyhow, but I'm very happy that it is being enforced.
YURKEVICH: Should it have been done sooner?
MCGARRY: Yes. Yes. When it became available to most adults, it should have been mandated from the get-go.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
YURKEVICH: Now, there has already been a little bit of back lash from the National Restaurant Association here in the United States, which has said
that by asking employees of restaurants to essentially police vaccines, that could cause a little controversy.
But we asked the owner who you just heard from, Jack McGarry who that that, he is already checking IDs at his bar. It is not a big step for him to then
go ahead and check vaccine status -- Richard.
QUEST: So, they are going to work this out over the next month, but at the moment, it doesn't seem like there is a negative test or an alternative.
You know, a vaccination or negative test alternative. That might be added later.
And also, how are they going to handle tourists who arrive with say the Sinovac or the AstraZeneca, or one of the other vaccines that is not F.D.A.
approved?
[15:05:03]
YURKEVICH: Well, that's what's going to be worked out over this next month trying to work out whether tourists do qualify for this new vaccine
mandate. We know that from the businesses we've spoken to, if they see that you have been fully vaccinated, they will let you in.
Here in New York, actually, you only need one shot to enter these businesses, but that may change as it comes to international travelers. The
businesses did say though that they are going to be refusing people if they're not vaccinated. But they too are waiting for a lot of these details
about tourists to work out, Richard, because this area that we're in, Lower Manhattan, really relies on tourists in order to do good business.
QUEST: Vanessa, thank you. Vanessa Yurkevich there.
President Biden is set to speak at the top of the hour about vaccination efforts at home and abroad. The U.S. has sent shots around the world, more
than 111 million doses so far. The President is expected to say those donations are just the beginning.
He can do so of course, because now the U.S. has hit the Fourth of July goal of getting at least one vaccine dose into 70 percent of U.S. adults.
Most of the planet, as you can see from this graph, from this chart remains far behind.
CNN's chief White House correspondent, Kaitlan Collins is in Washington.
There are two things here we've just got to look at. First of all, this idea of sending more vaccines overseas and getting more Americans
vaccinated. I suppose in the early part of the whole process, these were may be seen as contradictory, now, they're not.
KAITLAN COLLINS, CNN CHIEF WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: No. And the White House is viewing it now given the recent surge in the delta variant,
Richard, and the questions that they have about how to combat that, given how widespread it is in the U.S. is they think actually getting more
vaccines overseas is a way to deal with that problem at home, because it's a way to start to stop other variants from starting in other countries or
being able to spread and then make their way to the U.S. as we saw happen, of course, with the delta variant, the spread that happened so rapidly and
helps keep travel restrictions in place.
And so that is part of the White House's effort. They see it as essentially as a two-pronged effort here, not just getting vaccines into arms overseas,
which is a very difficult process, we should note because a lot of these countries that they are sending vaccines to don't always have the perfect
infrastructure that the White House would like them to have to be able to store and distribute these vaccines. So, it is a massive undertaking.
But of course, we have a massive undertaking here at home, where there is the infrastructure to keep and store and administer those vaccines. A lot
of people, 90 million people, the White House believes that are eligible that still haven't gotten that shot.
QUEST: And this vaccine mandate in New York. Interesting because the President spoke about vaccine mandates a few days ago and was very much
saying this is up to private industry, hoping private business will take up the slack on this.
What more will the White House do on vaccine mandates do you think?
COLLINS: They say they're not considering a Federal mandate. They had kind of had some officials, like the C.D.C. Director seem to say they were
considering it, but officials have since clarified that and said no, we are absolutely not considering one.
However, what I do think that they are fine with that is happening is what is happening in New York, and they would like to see that probably on a
different level in more localities and more states.
They think that that might be easier to do once the vaccines do have that full F.D.A. approval in regards to the current emergency authorization that
they have from the F.D.A. given the gravity of the situation.
And so, they are hoping to see that in other places. I think they are waiting to see is it successful in New York? Is it something that gets
picked up by other states and cities? And what does that look like?
QUEST: Finally, Kaitlan, what's the mood there? I mean, they've got a good win on infrastructure in a sense of getting it done, not the money they
wanted, but you know, he's a negotiator. He's a compromiser.
The President recognizes that he has got a good deal in that sense. But it could all be thrown off kilter if delta requires more restrictions. So,
what's the considered mood?
COLLINS: Well, it's incredibly tense, because I think the President feels a serious weight when it comes to this. That's what we've heard from people
who are speaking with him about how he is taking in the situation, because this is also the first time that they really face significant backslide
when it comes to the pandemic.
Ever since they took office, they have been dealing with a lot of, of course, issues and complications, but a lot of successes, being able to
send vaccines overseas, being able to get as many Americans vaccinated as are now fully vaccinated. But this is actually a back slide for them.
And so the question is, how do they dig their way out of this delta variant hole? And so that's a big one facing them and it is not just the
vaccinations and vaccine misinformation. It's also this feud that's happening with the Democratic Party over the eviction moratorium expiring,
which they thought you know, wasn't going to be the end of the world essentially, but now given delta is spiking, and it is still a massive
concern, now it's a fresh concern for them as well.
QUEST: Very good point. Kaitlan Collins, always good to have you, at the White House for us tonight. Thank you.
[15:10:08]
QUEST: As we continue on QUEST MEANS BUSINESS, in Turkey, there are wildfires. And I mean, to say they're impressive is perhaps the wrong way
to describe what is extremely damaging and dangerous. But I think you know what I mean. We are on the ground. We are there, and we'll have the details
after the break. It is QUEST MEANS BUSINESS.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
QUEST: Beijing speaks, Tencent listens. But what was the message intended? Only a few hours after the Chinese state media posted and then deleted an
article denouncing video games as spiritual opium, Tencent said it would put stricter time limits on children who plays games.
The post didn't even mentioned Tencent. It's a stark example of power wielded by the Chinese Communist Party over the country's corporations.
Clare Sebastian is here. This is around business, Clare Sebastian. The article, the op-ed comes out, then is deleted, which begs the question, if
they wanted to get the message across, why did they delete it? And then Tencent acted. What's going on here?
CLARE SEBASTIAN, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Yes, it was interesting, Richard, because it was deleted, and then reportedly re-posted with softer
language, which caused Tencent's share price to come back off its lows of the day, closed in Hong Kong, around six percent.
Perhaps this signals that the tug of war really in Beijing, they want to rein in some of these powers -- the power of these tech companies, but they
ultimately don't want to sort of destroy their business, they don't want to cause great losses in terms of the market.
But really interesting for two reasons. One, because the language of the original article was very sort of loaded, it talked about spiritual opium,
which of course, has historic connotations for China, a symbol of sort of national humiliation. It talked about gaming as an electronic drug.
It said, industry insiders should be vigilant at the harmful effects of online games, and that appropriate regulations should be adopted early on,
and this caused as you see, major losses for stocks of online gaming companies, both Chinese and global. And it caused Tencent to act very
quickly and very decisively, Richard, bringing in their own rules for their flagship game "Honor of Kings," which was mentioned in this op-ed. They are
limiting people under 12 to an hour on weekdays at two hours on holidays and various other measures that go beyond what the government had already
introduced several years ago.
[15:15:01]
QUEST: So, the assumption here is, and our next guest will certainly go through this with us, but the assumption here is that this article, this
op-ed was placed with the intention of firing a shot across the boughs of these gaming companies, not just technology generally, but specifically,
these gaming companies.
SEBASTIAN: You know, I think if you were in any doubt as to whether that was the case, Tencent reaction certainly does seem to confirm that,
Richard, not waiting for any sort of more official signal. And going even further, as I said, than the government had gone and it wasn't just sort of
the language and the strength of the original posting of the article, it is the broader context, of course, as well.
We've seen over the past few months that China has increasingly sort of stepped up its crackdown on private business, not just tech companies,
although mainly tech companies. But we saw education companies last week, and all this for a variety of reasons.
With DiDi, it was cybersecurity and data protection. Here we see, interestingly, more social concerns around the protection of young people,
and I think this is being read as a potential warning to the gaming sector.
QUEST: Right. So this is not -- I mean, it might have regulatory implications, but this is a new -- this isn't about beating them down.
SEBASTIAN: Well, so I mean, I think you have to look for clues in how China has sort of defined its goals over the next few years, Richard, the 14
five-year plan talks really more about sort of hard technology and things like semiconductors and quantum computing, that is not the kind of
companies that we're seeing targeted in these crackdowns.
So, Beijing is sort of setting out its priorities by reining in the power of these sort of more internet, entertainment, even education focused
companies. And I think that is the broader context, and of course, the deterioration of relations with the U.S. is also part of this picture here.
QUEST: Okay, Clare Sebastian, thank you.
The hand wringing that Clare is talking about over the ill effects of video games and the difference in this case is the Chinese government has the
power to do something quickly about it. U.S. and European governments on gaming have tried to fight tech companies on many levels. There have been
probes, then there were regulators, and these barely made a dent in company profits.
High profile hearings in the U.S. Congress, tech CEOs have had a few bad PR moments, no changes. Joe Biden has even signed executive orders to rein in
Silicon Valley sweeping legislation that could take months if not years, if it ever gets passed.
And in China, all it takes is one op-ed to immediate action.
Paul Triolo is the head of Geo Technology for Eurasia. He is in Washington.
Look, I mean, we don't want to overstate it, but at the end of the day, there would appear to be -- I'll come in to the question of whether it's a
legitimate action. But it does seem to be, you know, the administration, the ruling party wanted to send a message about the propriety of gaming, it
did so in this way. It's had a result.
PAUL TRIOLO, HEAD OF GEO-TECHNOLOGY, EURASIA GROUP: Yes, I think we have to be careful, though. I think as Clare made the point to read too much into
this. I mean, it is sort of dramatic language, called this spiritual opium etc. But at the same time, we've just had the financial regulators trying
to try to calm markets over some of the previous regulatory actions, which really roiled things around, you know, DiDi, and then more recently, the
online education companies.
So, I think that accounts for why it was sort of pulled hastily because I think maybe people are reading too much into this. Certainly, there's long
been concern about some of the issues raised here about the gaming industry, and it is just -- it's coming now, at a time of the sort of
broader, we prefer to call it regulatory rectification rather than a crackdown here, because some of this stuff is, you know, has long been in
train or is being driven by, you know, the things that Clare mentioned, like the U.S.-China relationship and other areas like data security.
So I think -- you're right. I mean, it's interesting how quickly people reacted to this, but we have to be careful not to overreact.
QUEST: But I guess, in our morning meeting, we sort of said, look, if the Chairman of the Federal Trade Congressional Committee, or something like
that made a statement or wrote an op-ed, well, we will be talking about -- you know, we would all think about, where is it going to go? What is he
going to do? What perhaps, is the support of this, this and that and the other?
But when it happens in China, and I know you don't use sort of believe that there are legitimate public policy reasons. And it's not just the Chinese
government saying we can therefore we will.
TRIOLO: Absolutely, absolutely. I think, you know, there are multiple things going on here. And one of them is, you know, this is the goal to
sort of align tech companies more with this 14 five-year plan priorities around hard tech, et cetera.
But there are these other long standing social issues that are also things that in the current, I would argue, U.S.-China climate can't be sort of
tolerated now. So, they sort of stand out more than they have in the past. They've long been concerned you know, around players playing games for
eight hours a day. Right?
[15:20:11]
TRIOLO: And so now, I think the perception within the government and within the party is okay, well, you know, we've tolerated some of these things.
Now, we at least need to move in a little bit different direction, because we're now in this long term struggle, if you will, with the U.S. and
potentially other Western countries, and so we have to sort of gird for this competition.
But at the same time, these are domestic concerns, families, you know, dealing with online education costs, et cetera. So yes, they are very, very
much aligned with both domestic priorities, and then also with the sort of broader issue of China's competitive stance, if you will, versus the U.S.
QUEST: I want you to help me understand these, the previous lots of regulatory issues. Fintech, DiDi, Tencent, obviously, in this case with
Alibaba. Now, I assume the Chinese government does not wish to bring the financial house down around its head. So, at some point, it's going to have
to take its metaphorical foot off the throat of these companies, or at least remove the market fear that that's going to do them down. When do you
think we'll see evidence of that?
TRIOLO: That's a great question. I mean, I think you have to go back quickly and look at how the ANT situation was handled, that was pretty
professional, by any -- you know, regulatory stretch, it happened quickly and had to restructure.
So, part of the calculus here is this idea of disorderly capital, and that really means we think more about companies getting into these other areas
where they hadn't previously been. So, with ANT, you know, they came up with a restructuring plan, ANT was restructured and it was fairly orderly
here in the sort of antitrust area.
And the other big piece of that, of course, was this idea that Tencent and Alibaba were forcing consumers into one or the other of their vertical, you
know, sort of gardens -- walled gardens. And so that was sort of the public policy piece of that.
So you know, that's already changed. And, of course, even with this latest thing, you've seen Tencent react to the sort of the warning here. So,
there's already things that the companies are taking preemptive action. I think that you'll see more of that happening.
And then on the things like the data security side, you'll see -- we'll see the result of the DiDi review, for example, but we don't think that will be
-- that particularly heavy handed, although the company in that case, sort of defied regulators, probably a little more than they should have.
But I think we'll see coming in the fall, how some of these things will play out, particularly on the sort of data security side, and then more so
the gaming. I think we'll see -- maybe we'll see regulation, but you know, this again, this statement of spiritual opium is not a regulatory move yet.
QUEST: Excellent to have you, sir. Thank you very much. Paul Triolo. We'll talk more as the year moves on.
TRIOLO: Thank you.
QUEST: In Australia, Qantas says it is standing down 2,500 workers because of COVID travel restrictions inside the country. The airline says the two-
month stand down will affect domestic pilots, cabin crew, and airport workers and that is mostly in New South Wales, which is Sydney.
The airline reduced its domestic operations less than 40 percent in July. Qantas is a stark example of the multi-speed recovery in the global travel
industry.
In Europe, most airlines are operating well below their pre-pandemic levels. This tweet from the air traffic control company, EUROCONTROL shows
the decline from two summers ago, some startling numbers that you see, except perhaps for Wizz Air, which is only down seven percent.
U.S. airport screenings, meanwhile, show that while air travel though is making huge gains, it has yet to fully recover.
In Latin America, Panama's Copa Airlines is flying around three quarters of its usual destination, the CEO of Copa Airlines told me, demand is up
especially for U.S. routes, and it is important to stay flexible in the face of delta variant.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PEDRO HEILBRON, CEO, COPA AIRLINES: We still have a lot of uncertainty. So it's hard to plan for anything. We have demand today. The US, as you
already said, is probably the stronger market from South American and from Latin America.
But given the delta variant and everything that is happening, it's hard to know what's going to happen in three months. So, we've been reactivating
planes calling back crews and just staying flexible in case anything changes.
QUEST: When you look at the environment, the airlines that went into the -- well, actually went into U.S. Chapter 11 or restructured in their own
countries. Do you see a level playing field for you in Central and Latin and Southern America?
HEILBRON: Well, it's not right now. We'll start with the air links from the U.S. U.S. carriers have more capacity into Latin America than what they had
pre-pandemic. And again, they've had very large subsidies.
[15:25:11]
HEILBRON: And then our competitors are in Chapter 11, still. Aeromexico, Avianca, LATAM, and they'll come out of Chapter 11 with better leverage,
probably lower cost. But we're ready for that. We've always been very lean, very competitive. And you know, we'll be ready, but -- and we'll make the
field level, but it is a bigger challenge for everything you've said.
QUEST: I always think of your airline, of Copa as the little airline that could, that while everybody else is going around the world making a lot of
noise about everything, there you are in Panama City, you were just getting on with it, building out the hub. But a lot of damage was done during the
pandemic. So, how are you going to rebuild the significance of the Panama hub?
HEILBRON: Yes, so we're doing that. We're in the middle of that. And at the beginning of the year, we were at below 40 percent of 2019 capacity. And
right now, we are somewhere, if you go into the OAG and you look at our schedules, it is somewhere between 60 percent and 70 percent of before
2019.
So, we are, I would say a long way into rebuilding our hub. And we'll do that, you know, maintaining our world leading on time performance, but also
being very cost conscious because the future is going to be more competitive, and passengers are going to be more leisure and less
corporate.
QUEST: Finally, American JetSMART. Delta is in your area. Of course, United has been for many years. Are you worried and do you need -- you are you
looking do you think to do a deal with somebody somewhere?
HEILBRON: We are in the Star Alliance. We have a long-standing partnership with United, and our hub in Panama has a unique geographic position and we
think our hub is going to be even more valuable in the future as some markets, some point to point markets shrink.
So, we think we're okay as we are. We're always open to talk to anyone, but we think we're in a very good position where we are today and we hope to
come out of the pandemic stronger than our competitors.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
QUEST: As we continue from the impact of COVID-19 to the impact of our changing climate on the world itself, wildfires are raging across both the
Mediterranean and the U.S. West Coast.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[15:30:00]
(MUSIC PLAYING)
QUEST: Turkey says it has brought most of the 50+ forest fires burning across the country under control. Crews are still fighting at least eight
fires including one in the southwest. They broke out nearly a week ago and have killed at least eight people.
Wildfires have also been burning in Greece, Italy and Spain. Hundreds have been forced to evacuate homes and resorts. Our senior international
correspondent Arwa Damon is at the front lines of this fire.
I said earlier, the pictures are impressive. By that, I mean the sheer amount of destruction and danger from them.
ARWA DAMON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, we were there earlier. It seems like the fires are everywhere. And even though, yes, the
government does have the vast majority of them under control, as it says, those not under control are posing some very serious threats.
There is a power plant in an area and that right now is being threatened by the moving flames coming closer and closer. They've been battling this for
quite some time. The local mayor is saying the situation is dire. There are grave concerns that this power station, power plant could end up engulfed
in flames.
And he is asking for aircraft that can fly at night. Talking to people, whether directly affected by the fire or other citizens here in Turkey,
everyone is so angry and so upset over what has taken place.
There is this fairly widespread sentiment that the government should have been better prepared, that it should have invested more in its firefighting
capabilities, that it should have had its own aircraft.
Yes, there is some international aid, aircraft have arrived from other countries but it's simply not enough.
What's quite striking, when you get close to where they're trying the fight these fires, it is not just firefighters on the front line. You have an
army of volunteers, people who have never fought a fire in their entire life, who are joining into the effort.
Also it feels like they're trying to get one area under control and then it sparks up. Or they'll walk away from an area or sit down thinking they have
it under control and then all of a sudden a tree bursts into flames.
And so it is this extraordinarily difficult situation and devastating situation that Turkey finds itself in.
QUEST: I'm guessing the professional firefighters would turn around and say, yes, that's exactly what happens with these vast fires that are so
difficult to control. And they say some are under control and some are not.
But in a government like Erdogan's, does he really need to worry about whether he cops the blame or at least the responsibility for not being
prepared?
DAMON: Look, this is a very deeply polarized country, especially around the issue of Erdogan's presidency. So his opponents are very quick to blame him
and his government.
We've heard numerous people saying, yes, the government spent all this money buying private planes for ministers and its own officials and didn't
bother buying planes that could fight a fire. His supporters turn around and say, the government is doing a wonderful job.
Who do you think it is putting out the flames until this point?
But it must also be said that his popularity has been waning, not just because of these forest fires but because of Turkey's ongoing economic
situation, the decline of the lira, et cetera.
So it will be quite interesting to see if these forest fires do impact his popularity on an even broader scale because no matter where you go in this
country, one thing is clear.
[15:35:00]
DAMON: People are extremely upset with what is taking place.
QUEST: Arwa Damon in Turkey, thank you.
The dozens of large fires are burning across the western United States. Around 2 million acres have been destroyed. The Bootleg Fire near
California's border is responsible for 400,000 acres in its own right. Authorities have been making strong progress to contain it.
So after disasters, heat waves, wildfires, committing a direct devastating impact on agriculture. With me now, the California fruit provider
Driscoll's, the president Soren Bjorn with me now.
How good to see you and how good of you to take time to join us. Thank you.
The interesting thing here is and I see that everybody talks about what strawberries you're growing and how are your blueberries and, as a customer
of yours, I'm always concerned about the quality of those.
But from your point of view, these climatic changes create an entirely new scenario and businesses, arena for to you trade in.
SOREN BJORN, PRESIDENT, DRISCOLL'S: I don't think there's any doubt. This year we had the big snowstorm in Texas that spread all the way into
operations in Mexico. We just had the big heat wave in the Pacific Northwest. It impacted our blueberry supply.
We definitely see this becoming more frequent and impacting our operations all over the world.
QUEST: So what do you do about it?
Besides putting political pressure where you can, so that things like the Paris accords are followed, the most efficient methods are followed, what
else can you do?
BJORN: Well, we have no choice but to diversify our supplies. So we have different regions to produce at the same time. So we have that right now. I
think we also stop looking at, in our breeding program, do we need to have varieties that can withstand like heat waves, something we hadn't thought
about before.
So we will have to step up our technology to offset some of this.
QUEST: If you look at what will grow, it's a case of what will grow, how you'll grow it but also what the consumer wants.
And are you finding that the consumer is more demanding on organic, environmentally sensitive?
How are they making their message clear to you?
BJORN: Yes. It is very clear that consumers are much, much more sensitive to what they're buying. So we are seeing our organic segments growing at
three to four times the rate of our conventional berries.
And our berries are at a good place. It is very healthy, very convenient, now available year-round. So the category is doing well. But the organic
segment is doing even better and that's by the choices consumers are making.
QUEST: Taking Driscoll's and looking at all the issues, what for you is your number one at the moment?
Because to some extent, the pandemic created a whole variety. Obviously, the necessity of labor in fields, necessarily being able to grow and
agriculture, distribution to shops. But people still bought.
So what is your number one challenge now?
BJORN: Well, number one, two and three would all be labor. There's no bigger issue for us than labor. It takes a lot of people to grow and
harvest our crops. We are not very likely to make a lot of progress on mechanization in the near-term future.
So we need people. And particularly in this country, we are stuck in the immigration debate that is not bringing us any (INAUDIBLE) coming up with
any solutions.
The reality is that we need a solution to be able to keep most of the production here in this country around labor. And (INAUDIBLE) components to
it, we got to legalize the workforces here. We got to have a guest worker program that really works. And then we got to close any loopholes that
facilitates illegal immigration going forward.
QUEST: Now I assume you're an optimist. You wouldn't be in business if you weren't to some extent. But you can't in any hand on heart moment, believe
that there will be a resolution, certainly on those first two.
BJORN: I think that's maybe, unfortunately, the right way to look at it. But I think there's a part of the debate that's something missing. If we
don't come up with a solution, we are really jeopardizing the national security of this country.
We are a very fortunate country. We are a net exporter of food. But if we can not come up with a solution here, the alternative really is to import
the food. And that's true in our category in berries.
If we cannot find enough labor in this country, we will need to grow it elsewhere. And we run the very real risk that, instead of being a net
export we become a net importer of food, which would be a massive national security issue and I think that's something that's been missing from the
debate.
[15:40:00]
BJORN: And if everybody takes a little bit of a step back and looks at the big picture, maybe we can come up with some reasonable solution here.
QUEST: Good to see you. We'll talk more, certainly as the season goes on. We thank you, I appreciate it, thank you, sir.
BJORN: Thank you very much.
QUEST MEANS BUSINESS. At the top of the hour we'll have a dash to the closing bell together. Now we're back in Dubrovnik after this, in our
"World of Wonder." What a wonderful place, as you will discover in a moment.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(MUSIC PLAYING)
(MUSIC PLAYING)
QUEST (voice-over): A magnificent picture wherever you look, Old Town Dubrovnik, a fairytale to behold. But lest we forget, amidst this scene of
great beauty, acts of evil took place.
QUEST: I can't leave Dubrovnik without at least reflecting on what happened here in the early 1990s, when war broke out in Europe in my lifetime and
those who were fighting thought it was legitimate to lay siege to a city full of civilians and then shell, bomb and grenade it.
QUEST (voice-over): In late 1991, smoke and flames filled the skyline here. Yugoslavian forces opened fire on the city after Croatia declared
independence. A seven-month siege ensued. Dubrovnik's UNESCO World Heritage status was no protection against mortars and bombs.
It's 30 years since the siege took place. And one very prominent relic stands a reminder. This is The Belvedere. Perched on prime property, it has
unprecedented views of sea and city. And it was once the five-star hotel.
[15:45:00]
QUEST (voice-over): Now in ruins, destroyed in the '91 attack and then abandoned.
IVAN VUKOVIC, DUBROVNIK TOUR GUIDE (voice-over): (INAUDIBLE) was the last resort of Croatian army in a homeland war.
QUEST (voice-over) I'm back with Ivan Vukovic.
This was high quality museum terra (ph). It was an indoor pool and outdoor pool. It was the best in the Adriatic, as I remember it as a kid. We could
go to the beach. My mother went shopping. My father went to the restaurants with his friends.
QUEST (voice-over): Eighteen floors and hundreds of rooms, it had been opened only six years before it became a shelter during the war.
VUKOVIC: There was almost 50,000 people from the very south of Croatia, moving from Dubrovnik, so most of five-star hotels they became refugee
camps at that point.
QUEST: Does this space have sentimental value?
VUKOVIC: It is nice to have it as a reminder how we got our own country because people have to learn the mistakes and we have to move forward, of
course.
QUEST: It is an extraordinarily beautiful place. Just look at it. I mean, this is picture perfect. This is a classic photo op.
QUEST (voice-over): The war lives on in the memories of all who live here.
QUEST: That smell of garlic is wonderful.
DARKO PEROJEVIC, RESTAURATEUR: There you go, sir, right on time.
QUEST: Absolutely.
PEROJEVIC: (INAUDIBLE) garlic prawns (ph).
QUEST (voice-over): Darko Perojevic is a restaurateur. There aren't that many local boys still living in the Old City. Darko has stayed, opening up
his fusion restaurant Azure (ph). It is a brisk walk from where he lives.
PEROJEVIC: All the same, what makes Dubrovnik is the old town.
QUEST: The Old Town is a museum. It is a tourist trap, beautiful though it is. And it is a movie set.
PEROJEVIC: It's all of that and it is also home to people living in the Old Town like myself. So you see, I see this as this is my living room,
basically.
QUEST: How has it changed?
PEROJEVIC: I think the whole world changed.
QUEST (voice-over): Prior to the pandemic, Dubrovnik suffered the plight of Venice and Barcelona, overcrowded with tourists to the point it was killing
the experience. The shutdowns, whilst causing hardship, have also given the people here a chance the reconnect with their own city.
QUEST: How different is this to normal?
PEROJEVIC: Totally different, yes. Totally different. In the normal, like 2019, you couldn't be walking. You have to avoid people. And watch it,
watch it; excuse me, may I pass, please?
QUEST: You're a restaurateur. You're in the tourism business. You make money out of it.
PEROJEVIC: Yes. You can always, like me, make money and have more time, right, and enjoy yourself. I think that we learned a lot. And I think that
we will definitely reset (ph) some things and we know where we don't want to go.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
QUEST: You used to play football.
PEROJEVIC: Yes, I mean, just like everybody else.
QUEST: Prove it.
PEROJEVIC: Ahh.
QUEST: You said you used to play in the --
(CROSSTALK)
PEROJEVIC: This is our playground, right?
Come on.
(LAUGHTER)
PEROJEVIC: No way.
(INAUDIBLE).
You feel you woke up a kid and (INAUDIBLE).
QUEST: A small scoop of ginger lemon.
Ohh, mmm, without even trying, with having ice cream, play football.
PEROJEVIC: You tell me what you think, can you get this outside in New York?
No.
QUEST: You're still banging about (INAUDIBLE).
PEROJEVIC: I am.
QUEST (voice-over): With pride but no smugness, Darko has invited to finish my ice cream at his home. And I see why.
QUEST: Wow. This is amazing.
PEROJEVIC: Not bad, huh?
QUEST: Tomorrow's Dubrovnik, better than today?
PEROJEVIC: Definitely, yes.
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[15:50:00]
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QUEST (voice-over): The rocky cliffs, the famous forts of Dubrovnik, to millions of people, this is King's Landing from the HBO series "Game of
Thrones."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "GAME OF THRONES")
JONATHAN PRYCE, ACTOR, "HIGH SPARROW": A sinner comes before you.
QUEST (voice-over): Hang on. Let him without sin.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
QUEST: Steeper than it looks. Look at that. That was a view worth climbing for. King of the world.
QUEST (voice-over): OK. Wrong movie. I am oblivious. I walk right past the guide, showing "Game of Thrones" scenes to the tourists. I might be the
only one on the planet who hasn't seen the show. All I see is beautiful Dubrovnik.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
QUEST: Ever since I arrived here, I've become mildly obsessed by this mega yacht that is berthed in the waters just outside Old Town Dubrovnik. I now
know her name is Scheherazade. And it is either the fourth or fifth largest mega yacht in the world, depending on your definition.
QUEST (voice-over): Yachts, sail boats, holiday charters, for Croatians, its relationship with the sea runs much deeper.
QUEST: I should be offering to help here but I don't know what I'm doing.
QUEST (voice-over): Today, what it is all about.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You can start the engine if you want. So hit here. It's pretty easy so I can just --
QUEST: Oh, I can make a mess of it.
So we start with the power.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
OK now. Wait.
QUEST: And start.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And start button.
QUEST: Nothing, absolutely nothing.
I told you I could make a mess of it.
QUEST (voice-over): I shall leave the skippering to Dado. It is beautiful and we are only just on our way.
QUEST: Oh, look at that. That's gorgeous.
That's lovely, isn't it there?
Nobody is driving the boat but I seem to be going out OK.
Well, I'm glad to see you back. I was ready. I was ready.
QUEST (voice-over): Scenery, air, motion of the boat. And you know what happens next.
QUEST: I might have been tempted to snooze off just then.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You feel peace and quietness and you open the sail and you just hear like the wind and the waves and a couple of birds. You just
feel the relief and happy. It's like true happiness, I would say.
QUEST: When did you fall in love with the sea?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: For us, always part of living. You go on a boat, you go for a swim and that's it. It is part of our DNA because we are blessed with
this coast and with the sea and everything. And you just need to use it.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
QUEST (voice-over): There's one more nautical talent to try. And as I was never a Boy Scout, this is not going to go well.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The bow line.
QUEST: The bow line.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: First you need to make a loop.
QUEST: Whoa, whoa, whoa.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The loop like, whop, whop, whop.
QUEST: Having trouble with me whop.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Go from the beneath.
QUEST: Yes?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is the loop that you need.
Are you following?
QUEST: Sort of.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE), Richard.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
QUEST (voice-over): From at the top of the mountain, Dubrovnik looks like a toy town, something you just want to scoop up.
[15:55:00]
QUEST (voice-over): Put in your pocket and take home, picture perfect in every way, dare I say precious.
And I think precious is the word that best describes all of this. After all, it is remarkable when you think of what Dubrovnik has endured, in
ancient times and modern, and still stands proud and precious. And you'll want to come here and visit this precious jewel for yourself. Dubrovnik is,
no doubt, part of our "World of Wonder."
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(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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QUEST: I'm Richard Quest. Together, let's have a dash to the closing bell. It is barely two minutes away.
Vaccine mandates have gained momentum in the U.S. with New York City's mayor and Microsoft the latest to throw their weight behind them. The Dow
is up after a rough start to August yesterday. The SNP is on the cusp of a record close.
And the Nasdaq is close, too. New York will join cities across Europe and will require soon vaccination proof for entering to restaurants, gyms and
the like. It's a milestone for the U.S., the first major city to take that step after private businesses had led the way. The mayor Bill de Blasio
said he hopes it reassures and presses more people to get vaccinated.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MAYOR BILL DE BLASIO (D-NY), NEW YORK CITY: If you want to participate in our society fully, you got to get vaccinated. You got to get vaccinated.
It's time. All the answers, all the information is out there.
You've seen over 160 million Americans get vaccinated safely. You've seen it make the difference. The only reason we're having the recovery is
vaccination. So it's time. And this is going to send that message clearly.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
QUEST: And the time to show you the Dow 30 as the closing bell gets ready. You can see IBM is at the top. Disney is at the bottom. A wodge of good
solid green across the board in a variety of sectors. And that's why we're having a Dow that's near record highs tonight.
And that is our dash to the bell tonight. I'm Richard Quest. We'll have QUEST MEANS BUSINESS for you again tomorrow. As always, whatever you're up
to in the hours ahead, I hope it is profitable. The closing bell is on its way. "THE LEAD" with Pamela Brown starts now.
END
