SEZ exports up 36 per cent at Rs90,416 crore in 2008-09

Exports from special economic zones (SEZs) in the country have increased from Rs66,638 crore in 2007-08 to Rs90,416 crore in 2008-09, registering a growth of 36 per cent.

Overall, exports from SEZs recorded 552 per cent growth over past five years beginning 2003-04, an official release said today.

A total of 91 SEZs are making exports. Out of this 43 are IT/ITES and 13 multi product while 35 others are sector specific SEZs. The number of units in these SEZs total 2,263.

Special economic zones have provided employment to 3.87 lakh persons on the whole, out of which  2.53 lakh jobs are incremental employment generated after February 2006 when the SEZ Act has come into force, the release noted. 

This is in addition to the employment created by the developer for infrastructure activities and at least double this number obtain indirect employment outside the SEZ as a result of the operations of SEZ Units, the official release said.

New generation SEZs, the release said, have created a tremendous local area impact in terms of direct employment, emergence of new activities, changes in consumption pattern and social life, human development facilities (such as for education, healthcare) etc, it added.

SEZs generate demand for complementary services and goods and thus impact on other sectors through linkages and creation of ancillary industries and infrastructure.

Even during the current economic meltdown, SEZs have registered an impressive growth in export, investment and employment generation, the release noted.

Nokia special economic zone in Tamil Nadu (Telecom equipments SEZ) achieved physical exports of Rs10,385.3 crore in three years (2006-07 to 2008-09)

With total investment of Rs2,225.47 crore, including FDI worth Rs833.51 crore, the SEZ provided direct employment to 14,859 persons.  

The SEZ has projected investment of Rs2930 crore and direct employment of 20,000 persons.

Mahindra City SEZ in Tamil Nadu, which is into apparels and fashion accessories, IT/Hardware and auto ancillary,  has effected exports worth Rs1,524.56 crore in three years (2006-07 to 2008-09), the release said.  It provided direct employment to 9,383 persons.  

With investment of Rs1,372.5 crore, including Rs187.63 crore FDI out of a projected Rs2,404.17 crore, already made, the SEZ, has projected direct employment of 56,766 persons.

Adidas Group's Apache SEZ in Andhra Pradesh for footwear has effected exports worth Rs172.03 crore in three years (2006-07 to 2008-09). 

The SEZ has already made investments of Rs227.15 crore, including Rs16.77 crore worth FDI.  It provided direct employment to 5,342 persons, out of which 1,453 are women employees. It has projected direct employment of 20,000 persons.

Wipro Limited's IT SEZ in Andhra Pradesh achieved exports worth Rs586 crore in two years (2007-08 to 2008-09) and provided direct employment to 4,437 persons.  

Wipro has already invested Rs371.701 crore in the SEZ and has projected investment of Rs223 crore and direct employment of 7,000 persons.

Mundra Port and Special Economic Zone (Multi product) in Gujarat achieved physical exports worth Rs768.44 crore in two years (2007-08 to 2008-09). With investment of Rs5,219.009 crore already made and projected investment of Rs25,545 crore, It provided direct employment to 870 persons, out of which 10 are women employees.  

Reliance Jamnagar Infrastructure Ltd (multiproduct SEZ), in Gujarat effected exports worth Rs9,882.28 crore in 2008-09; invested Rs32,082 crore and provided direct employment to 2,385 persons. The projected investment is Rs36,274 crore.

The Special Economic Zones (SEZs) policy supported by SEZ Act 2005 and SEZ Rules 2006 intends to make SEZs an engine for economic growth supported by quality infrastructure complemented by an attractive fiscal package, both at the centre and the state level, with the single window clearance mechanism. The SEZs have become an important component in the export-led industrialisation strategy, playing a crucial role in promoting the manufacturing sector, including enabling investment climate for SMEs and offer platform for attracting export-oriented FDI. 

In short span of about three years since SEZs Act and rules were notified in February, 2006, formal approvals have been granted for setting up of 568 SEZs out of which 315 have been notified.