The Board of Approval (BoA) of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) gave formal approval to the proposals of Tata Consultancy Services, Cognizant Technology Solutions, and Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (APIIC) to set up IT/ITES SEZs in Andhra Pradesh. The BoA approved 20 formal and seven in-principle approvals for setting up the SEZs. It also converted four proposals from in-principle approvals to formal approvals. Formal approval was given to two IT/ITES SEZs in Kakinada and Chittoor in Andhra Pradesh.
The multi-services SEZ by Gujarat Finance City Development Company Limited in Gandhinagar and Agro and Food processing SEZ by Nagaland Industrial Development Corporation Limited in Dimapur (Nagaland) were also given formal approvals. The textiles SEZ by Alok Infrastructure Private Limited in Dadra and Nagar Haveli and multi-product SEZ by Sterling Erection and Infrastructure Private Limited in Bharuch (Gujarat) were converted from in-principle approvals to formal approvals.
BoA gave in-principle approval to Gitanjali Gems for setting up a 102-hectare gems and jewellery zone and a 1,000-hectare multi-product project in Maharashtra. Gujarat Hydrocarbon and Energy SEZ Ltd’s proposal to set up a 220-hectare project in the energy and petrochemical sector in Gujarat were also given in-principle approval.
Commerce secretary and BoA chairman GK Pillai informed that formal approvals have so far been granted for setting up of 366 SEZs, out of which 142 have been notified. He said that over Rs 46,705 crore have been invested in these notified SEZs, which are providing direct employment to over 40,153 persons. In addition to this, the 12 private/state government SEZs notified prior to the SEZ Act, 2005, coming into force, are providing direct employment to over 15,000 persons. This takes the total employment provided by the new-generation SEZs to over 55,000 persons, Pillai said.
– Bangalore Bureau
