Amin al-Zarb Awards for Entrepreneurs

In a ceremony held to commemorate the 133rd anniversary of the founding of one the most important private sector establishments in the history of Iran, 23 individuals were awarded the Amin al-Zarb badge of entrepreneurship for their distinguished role in fostering economic empowerment. 

Tehran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture, founded more than a century ago, hosted the event at Tehran's Vahdat Hall to extol excellence in entrepreneurship, celebrate lifetime achievements in manufacturing and business, and recognize individuals whose contributions have been key to economic progress, reports the official news website of TCCIM.

Mohsen Hashemi, son of late Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, the head of TCCIM, Masoud Khansari, the head of Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture, Gholamhossein Shafei, Minister of Industries, Mining and Trade Mohammad Reza Nematzadeh and First Vice President Es'haq Jahangiri were present at the event attended by more than 700 industry players.

Gholamali Soleimani who founded the dairy and food company Kalleh, Morteza Soltani, a prominent figure in the foundry industry, and Iran's electricity industry pioneer, Mohammad Mehdi Fanaei, were among the award recipients.   

Donya-e-Eqtesad media group (which also publishes Financial Tribune) CEO Alireza Bakhtiari was also awarded the Amin al-Zarb award in recognition of his journalistic endeavors in the private sector.  

Asadollah Asgaroladi, with a history of six decades of industrial work, and other outstanding players in the cement, stationery, livestock, milk and tea industries among others were conferred with the honorary badge because of their years of distinguished work.

The prize is named after Mohammad Hassan Isfahani (fames as Amin al-Zarb or Treasurer), an immensely influential Iranian businessman who was a pioneer in trade with other nations and has many notable accomplishments to his name.  

His son, Mohammad Hossein Amin al-Zarb, followed the path of his father and is known as a pioneer in bringing electricity to Iran and founder of the Assembly of Merchants in 1926, which later morphed into what is now the Tehran chamber of commerce. He held the office of the chamber’s director from the time of its founding up to his death in 1932.