Coll 28/67 ‘Persia. Annual Reports, 1932–’ [‎125r] (249/644)

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(2) T extile Mills.
441. The important order for a large cotton mill for Government account at
Ashraf, mentioned in paragraphs 557 and 558 of the annual report for 1933, was
awarded early in December, after protracted negotiations, to the German firm of
Union Matex. The final price quoted by this concern was understood to be about
8 per cent, lower than that of their British competitors, and, in addition, they
undertook to receive payment within the terms of a barter agreement, whereby
Persian produce to a value equivalent to the amount of the order would be
exported to Germany. The loss of this valuable order considerably weakens the
possibility of British textile machinery firms building up a very strong position
in Persia, as well as of obtaining the orders for additional mills on the same scale
as that at Ashraf, which the Government intend to acquire in the near future.
442. The spinning mills at Shiraz, Isfahan and Yezd equipped by Messrs.
Platt Brothers started work during the year, and an extension to the Isfahan
mill has been ordered from the same firm. A licence to erect a spinning mill at
Kashan has been granted by the Department of Industry. The scheme for a mill
at Bushire did not materialise, and negotiations are still continuing concerning
the Meshed project {vide paragraph 556 of the annual report for 1933).
443. The jute mill at Resht is working satisfactorily, and is considered
capable of supplying the whole present needs of Persia in respect of sacks and
sacking material.
444. An order for a silk spinning and weaving mill at Deh Noe, at the
Caspian terminus of the Chains Road, was placed in the autumn with the
French concern of Ateliers Guillaume Diederichs, Sainte-Colombe-les-Vienne,
Lyons.
(3) Sugar Factories.
445. Two of the projected six new sugar factories were completed and
started production in October, one at Shahi in Mazanderan and the other at
Veramin. Construction of a third factory An East India Company trading post. at Shahabad, near Kermanshah, and
of a fourth at Mervdasht near Shiraz, was begun in the summer. These two
factories are expected to start production next year. FAperimental cultivation
of sugar cane is being carried out in the Karun Valley, where it is possible that
a fifth factory An East India Company trading post. , at Ahwaz, may be erected. It is also stated that the Shahi
factory An East India Company trading post. , though made for dealing with sugar beet, is also capable of treating a
certain amount of sugar cane.
446. Reports on the autumn beet crop were favourable. The four factories
now built or in course of erection will be able to supply a fair proportion of the
needs of the country in present conditions, although in the absence of the crushing
taxation on sugar levied in the interests of railway construction consumption
would be from two to three times the present amount.
(4) Match Factories.
447. A new match factory An East India Company trading post. was erected at Zenjan and started production
during the year. A company was formed at Tabriz with the object of establishing
a new match factory An East India Company trading post. in that town and a branch factory An East India Company trading post. at Nisnapur. The equip
ment of a match factory An East India Company trading post. at Isfahan is also projected.
448. The important factory An East India Company trading post. already existing at Tabriz belonging to Hajji
Bagher Khoyi was destroyed by fire on the 2nd and 3rd December. Insurance of
this factory An East India Company trading post. had only been completed on the 1st December. Fifty per cent, of
the insurance had been taken out with the Soviet concern of Gosstrakh, 25 per
cent, with German firms, and the remaining 25 per cent, with three British
firms.
(5) Cement Factory An East India Company trading post. .
449. A call for tenders for the extension of the cement factory An East India Company trading post. near Tehran,
with a view to doubling its capacity, was published in October. British firms
appear to have shown little interest in this project, and the order will possibly go
to the Danish firm of F. L. Schmidt and Co., who equipped the existing factory An East India Company trading post. .