I think this is more to do with the way the (financial) nature of language translation in WT land has changed over the years.
Previously, to be of any use the material being translated needed to be printed so that it could be useful - and printing used to be fairly expensive with the old style hot plates etc etc.You also had the logistics of distributing the printed materials in relatively small quanities both to Bethels and then to individual congregations - packing up lots of small quantities of even just tracts takes time to do!
Two key things have changed
- Firstly, printing itself is relatively cheaper even for short small runs
- Secondly, and more importantly, it doesn't even need to be printed now!! The website and the smart phone app means that distributing translated material can be extremely cheap to do - and that's really been a game changer for the WT.
So now the biggest cost in translating is the actual translating - so it makes sense to do what WT are doing now...
- Firstly, buy a RTO - basically a domestic house - which is a resaleable asset
- Secondly, buying it in the area where the langage is spoken is good for keeping those working their up-to-speed with the language - and can give the WT kudos with local government and NGOs etc
- Thirdly, having a local office means it's easier to get additional volunters who speak the language to come in on an ad-hoc or temporary basis.
Local temporary local volunters can then do the leg work of initial translations etc while the permanent staff can knock it into shape for a final translation copy that can be proof read by local volunters. The final translated material can then be upoaded and made available to public via the website and app - it doesn't all need to be printed.
There was discussion here recently about the Welsh RTO
https://www.jehovahs-witness.com/topic/279555/wts-buys-ps1-000-000-luxury-sea-front-property-wales-uk
What's the point in having Welsh translators located in London? Buy a resaleable asset in the local area, get local staff and volunteers, get the translated stuff emailed to Bethel and they just upload to website and app. QED