Centre expects SEZ exports to grow 86%

The government on Friday said that exports from Special Economic Zones (SEZs) are expected to touch Rs 1,25,000 crore in 2008-09, a more than 86 per cent rise over the last fiscal. “The government sees SEZs as vehicles of industrialisation and employment generation,” commerce minister Kamal Nath said here. Pointing to the massive increase in exports and employment, he said, “Development of this nature reassures us of the validity of the basic policy relating to SEZs, notwithstanding the scepticism expressed by a few persons.” SEZs currently provide employment to more than 2.8 lakh people, Nath said. The incremental employment generated by SEZs have increased over 150 per cent in the last three years. Till now the government has granted 453 formal approvals for setting up of SEZs, of which 207 have been notified.