Kashan Shenasi

Kashan Shenasi

Kashan Chamber of Commerce and its Role in the Economic and Urban Transformations of the Region (1334 - 1343 SH): A Study Based on Documents

Document Type : Original Article

Author
Assistant Professor, Department of Islamic History and Civilization, Azarbaijan Shahid Madani University, Tabriz, Iran
Abstract
This study examines the role and function of the Kashan Chamber of Commerce in the economic and social transformations of the city during the period from 1955 to 1964. Its main objective is to explain the position of this institution in regulating commercial and industrial activities, pursuing the demands of economic actors, and contributing to the resolution of Kashan’s economic and urban issues within the context of Iran’s economic transformations during the 1950s and early 1960s—a period in which the Iranian economy gradually entered a phase of stability and growth. This study is library based and analytical, examining the Chamber’s documents, including administrative correspondence, reports, and minutes. The central hypothesis of the study is that during this period the Chamber, in addition to organizing commercial affairs, served as an intermediary between economic actors and government institutions and played an effective role in pursuing economic issues and developing urban infrastructure. The article is organized into three sections: first, an examination of Iran’s economic and social context and Kashan’s economic position; second, a history of the formation of the Assembly of Merchants’ Representatives and the Kashan Chamber of Commerce; and third, an analysis of the activities of this institution based on the available documents. The findings indicated that the Chamber played an important role in strengthening the regional economy by addressing infrastructural conditions, supporting local industries such as carpet weaving and textiles, and seeking to expand banking and communication services.
Keywords

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