Exports from SEZs to grow by 15% this fiscal

Exports from the special economic zones are likely to grow by 15 per cent in the current fiscal over 2008-09, a senior government official today said.

In the previous fiscal, exports from the SEZs was Rs 99,689 crore (Rs 996.89 billion).

"In 2009-10, exports from SEZ are likely to increase by about 15 per cent over the last fiscal. . .We are confident that exports growth will be there (despite the slowdown)," D K Mittal, additional secretary in commerce ministry, told reporters in New Delhi.

He said the shipments were at Rs 1,01,264 crore (Rs 1,012.64 billion) in the first half of the current fiscal itself.

"We have robust growth from the SEZs," Mittal added.

Exports from Reliance Industries' Jamnagar refinery is likely to contribute substantially to the total shipments this fiscal, another official said.

As per the industry experts, gems and jewellery, textiles, engineering and telecommunications SEZs were the major contributers to the exports.

As on September 30, 578 SEZs have got formal approval, 147 'in-principle' approval, and 340 have been notified. Of this, 101 are functional. The total investments in SEZs were at Rs 1,29,985.52 crore (Rs 1,299.85 billion) till September.

The total employment in the tax free enclaves as on September 30, was 4,18,129 people.