Dahej SEZ aims at exports worth Rs 70 crore for Fiscal 2009-10

Expects to attract Rs 26,000 investment from units

With couple of units having begun functioning, the Dahej SEZ Ltd. (DSL) is now expecting exports from the special economic zone to be around Rs 70 crore by the end of the financial year 2009-10. While the company that is developing SEZ in Dahej near Bharuch is expecting 4-5 companies to be operational by March 2010, it hopes to see another 10-11 companies by March 2011.

Talking about the exports, RJ Shah, chief executive officer of Dahej SEZ Ltd. said, "By the end of March 2010, we expect exports from the SEZ to be around Rs 70 crore. However, eventually when all the units are operational, we expect overall exports to be about Rs 60,000 crore, which would be five years down the line." While the company is investing around Rs 1,000 crore for developing the SEZ, it expects investments from units in its premises to be in the tune of Rs 26,000 crore. The two companies that are operational include Indofil Organic and DIC Fine Chemicals, Shah added.

While overall 70-odd companies are expected to set up units in the SEZ, around 32 companies have been allotted land. "Of the 1,700 hectares, about 1,300 hectares have been allotted and the rest will be allotted soon," he said. The developer company, which has 26 per cent and 23 per cent stakes of GIDC and ONGC in it respectively, is also scouting for partners for an in-house transport facility. "For various utilities like power and telecommunications, we have tied up with players like Torrent Power and BSNL. We are now looking at partners for an in-house transport facility within the SEZ premises. However, we have not zeroed-in on any one player," said Shah.