Coll 28/41 ‘Persia. Trade Reports. Kerman 1924–’ [‎38r] (75/313)

Annual Report Economic (A) of Kerman and Bandar Abbas
Areas for the Iranian Year 1315 (21st March 1936
to 20th March 1937)
Introduction.
This report covers the area extending from the
Khorasan frontier a,nd the desert of Dasht-i-Lut
in the north, to the Persian Gulf The historical term used to describe the body of water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. in the south. To
the east' Ls adjacent to British Baluchistan, while
the province of Fars constitutes its western boun
dary . ii-
The province of Kerman and Iranian Baluchistan
is about as large as France. Kerman, with an
estimated population of about 85,000, is the seat
of the Governor-General.
The province of Kerman is situated on a plateau
and is sub-divided into 29 balukats (sub-divisions)
of which the following are important from a commer
cial point of view :—
£j r j rt?l .__There is possibly a prosperous future
for this town as it is here that the Kerman,
Shiraz, Lar and Yezd trade routes bifur
cate. With the improvement of the Shiraz
and Lar motor roads, Sir]an is almost sure
to become a big distribution centre.
Raf.nnjan .—Is the centre for cotton, pistachio
and almonds. The annual output of these
is about 3,000.000 lbs.
Shahdad (Khabis).—Ie situated on the eastern
edge of the Lut desert. Its orange and date
groves supply the Kerman market.
Rani '—Is famous for its production of Henna.
The cultivation is actually carried on in
the Naramshir district which is adjacent
to the east, but Bam reaps the benefit.
Katira (Gum Tragacanth) grows in pro
fusion in the surrounding hills of Bam,
but unfortunately in this district little
or no commercial use is made of this
product. Henna is exported in bulk to
Yezd where it is ground and then exported.
It is believed that the Government is now
busy in the development of both of these
industries in this area.
Bandar Abbas.—1$ the port for Kerman. Its
commercial importance lies in its being the
trade route for the markets of South
East Iran, namely, Kerman, Yezd and
Isfahan, and from which the produce of
these districts are exported. The only in
dustry in the town is cotton spinning.
The products of commercial importance
in the neighbourhood are Dates and Henna.
The former are grown in the district of
Minab, while the latter, come from the
Shamilad region which lies to the north east
of Bandar Abbas. There are salt mines at
Hormuz Island and at Namakdan (Kishm)
and commercial use is now being made of
it by Monopoly Companies and Firms.
The minor ports of Jask and Charbar are
merely fishing centres. It is expected that
when the Zahidan-Charbar road is com
pleted, Charbar will become the port for
Khorasan, Sistan and Mekran.
Finance.
Owing to the transitory revival of the carpet
industry in the province of Kerman during last
autumn and the early part of last winter, when the
money market was not as tight as before, monetary
transactions showed signs of improvement. Towards
the end of the year, however, the money market \
resumed its usual tightness, which may be attri
buted to the restriction of credit, agricultural de
pression, ever-changing high taxation, slump in
general trade, and finally to the foreign exchange
control. As the year progressed, all articles of
food, especially bread, went up in price on account
of wheat having been monopolised by the Govern
ment. As a result of this, shop-keepers were com- I
pelled to borrow money against mortgage, and in
certain cases this state of affairs resulted in
bankruptcy.
There is a tendency on the part of the merchants
to invest part of their capitals in the newly formed
Monopoly Companies. The official selling rates
during the year averaged as follows :—
Rials 600 per 100 Rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. ,
Rials 80 per pound sterling.
The National Bank of Iran in Kerman captured
the bulk of the local banking business. As a result
of this, and of the local difficulties and restrictions
arising from the exchange control, the Kerman
branch of the Imperial Bank of Iran closed down
in September last. The National Bank of Iran
intend to open branches at Bam and Sirjan in the
year 1316.
Foreign Trade.
Of the three appendices attached to this report
Appendix “A” shows the total imports and exports
w<3 Bandar Abbas, during the year under review,