SEZs attract over Rs 10,900 cr FDI in 3 years

The country's special economic zones (SEZ) have attracted foreign direct investment (FDI) of over Rs 10,900 crore in the last three years, Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jyotiraditya Scindia said today.

"According to the readily available information, the total foreign direct investment in SEZs is to the tune of Rs 10,983 crore," Scindia said in a written reply to Rajya Sabha.

He said the impact of economic meltdown on the performance of SEZs cannot generally be ruled out.

However, export from the SEZ during the financial year 2008-09 has been to the tune of Rs 99,689 crore registering 50 per cent growth over the year-ago period.

Asked if the government has resolved the issues of agitating farmers whose land was acquired for setting up SEZs, he said, "The state governments have been advised that in case of land acquisition for SEZs, first priority should be given for acquisition of waste and barren land and if necessary single crop agricultural land."

Since 2006, when the SEZ Act was notified, formal approvals were granted for setting up 568 SEZs, of which 315 have been notified.